MHDD Services for Children and Youth

Intervention Services

Regional Intervention Program (RIP)

RIP is an internationally recognized, award winning, parent-implemented program designed for the early treatment of children with moderate to severe behavior disorders.

News Article: RIP Program Offers Help to Families

The program, established in 1969, is available to families in which there are concerns regarding a young child's behavior. RIP enrollment is available to families with children under six years of age. No referral from a doctor is necessary.

Program outline
At least one parent (or other adult with legal guardianship) and one child from each enrolled family are required to participate in the program a minimum of two times per week.

Supported by a small professional and paraprofessional staff, parents serve as primary teachers and therapists for their own child, as daily operators of the overall program and as primary sources of assistance in an outcome-based management by objectives system.

Treatment is divided into two phases: Phase 1 (active treatment) and Phase 2 (payback treatment) the consolidation of learning phase. Program activities are organized within a system of modules that includes: behavioral skills training, social skills training, developmental skills training, RIP preschool classrooms and work groups

Parents learn, and have the opportunity to practice, behavior management skills by viewing video tapes, by taking observational data on other families, by teaching in the classrooms, by individual sessions with their own children and by talking with RIP staff, other parents, and RIP consultants. Feedback on parent and child performance is given daily and formal treatment objectives are evaluated regularly.

The RIP-Nashville program and 14 RIP-Expansion programs are funded across Tennessee by the TDMHDD. For more information and for locations and contact numbers of the RIP programs, you may link to the RIP web site: www.ripnetwork.org.