Arizona DDD/ State

The P.R.O.U.D. (Providing Respectful Opportunities and Understanding De-escalation) training is a person‑centered, Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)–aligned program that equips direct care workers and support professionals with proactive, safe, and respectful strategies for preventing and responding to behavioral challenges.

Designed for direct care workers in skilled nursing facilities, long‑term care facilities, and other settings serving vulnerable populations, including those in home health, developmental disability services, and group homes. The course emphasizes that abuse, neglect, and exploitation have serious physical and mental health impacts, with abused older adults facing an increased risk of death. It underscores the moral, ethical, and legal responsibility of care workers to protect individuals in their care.

Gives the Direct Support Professional (DSP) the knowledge and skills to provide attendant care — ethics and legal issues, cultural competency, nutrition and more — plus skills such as proper hand washing, glove removal and body mechanics.

Positive Behavior Support Training (PBS) addresses these challenges by providing participants with a deep understanding of behavior patterns, triggers, and the reasons behind certain behaviors. This training is not just about reacting to behaviors as they occur; it’s about taking a proactive approach to behavior management.

Prepares an instructor to teach the Direct Care Worker curriculum: managing DCW documents, delivering the curriculum, and testing students on physical skills. Required for instructors who wish to teach the AHCCCS-approved Principles of Caregiving curriculum for the Arizona DCW program.