Behavioral Support Services

Utilizing safe and efficient functional assessment procedures, this service focuses on identifying the triggering contexts and factors responsible for problem behavior such as self-injury, elopement, task refusal, and aggression. This process, known as a functional assessment, consists of a thorough review of the participant's person-centered plan (PCP), medical records, and records from previous service providers as well as caregiver and participant interviews and observations of the participant in their natural environments. When warranted and if possible the information gathered is used to design a scenario that serves as a practical test to further analyze and confirm the events believed to trigger problem behavior and the combined reinforcing items, people, places, and activities that motivate the participant.

A service in which the BCBA oversees and monitors the implementation of recommendations outlined in the Behavior Plan, making any modifications to the Plan as needed along the way. During consulting sessions, the consultant works with the participant and caregivers to ensure the strategies in the Behavior Plan are accurately followed, targeted skills are being addressed, and data are being tracked on the behaviors specified in the Behavior Plan. The consultant is responsible for conducting frequent reviews of the data to make programming decisions and provide the team with ongoing training to ensure consistent progress is made with the goals outlined in their Behavior Plan. The number of consultation hours provided is dictated by the individual needs of the participant. DDA requires that consultation be provided AT LEAST monthly for the first 6 months and quarterly after the first 6 months.

The insights gained from the Behavioral Assessment are used to develop an individualized plan aimed at reducing or eliminating problem behavior while fostering essential skills such as functional communication, delay and denial toleration, and contextually appropriate behaviors such as accuracy in adaptive skills, vocational skills, and independent leisure activities. Strategies recommended in the plan are evidenced-based using the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and rooted in a preventative, compassionate, trauma-informed approach. This approach, referred to as Skills-Based Treatment (SBT), provides individuals with choice and control over their participation in all of their environments. The Behavior Plan empowers caregivers and family members to tackle problem behaviors while promoting overall growth and development for the individuals in their care, ultimately improving their overall quality of life.

Temporary, direct assistance (i.e., on site and in person) and modeling of the strategies outlined in the Behavior Plan for families, agency staff, and caregivers. The goal of this service is to enable them to independently and effectively carry out all components of the Behavior Plan. The support is provided by a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) who works under the supervision of the BCBA assigned to the case. The RBT will provide written feedback on the effectiveness of the BP and/or on-site meetings or instructional sessions regarding the Behavior Plan with the participant's support team. order to be approved for this service, the participant must have a formal behavior plan and there is a documented need for additional on-site execution and modeling of identified behavioral support strategies.