Behavior Supports

Behavior Supports are services based on principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), that are used to improve the quality of life for the individual served, their families, caregivers, and friends. Behavior Supports are individualized to the person, whether it’s a child or an adult, to focus on the areas in life that are important to them. The primary goal of Behavior Supports is to decrease challenging behaviors while increasing appropriate behaviors so that the person receiving services can live life to the fullest and be successful.

Behavior supports include activities designed to promote learning, independence and life skills. Behavior Supports can increase:

• Communication (increasing functional communication)
• Safety skills
• Personal hygiene (toileting, self care)
• Independence with daily living skills
• Socialization (making friends, setting relationship boundaries, interacting with others)

Behavior Supports can decrease:

• Physical aggression
• Property destruction
• Self-injurious behavior
• Verbal aggression
• PICA
• Stereotypical self-stimulating behaviors

Homeplace Support Services’ Behavior Supports are individualized to the person, their family, and location. Our Behavior Support Specialists provide caregiver training to provide education and training to reinforce the skills necessary to encourage appropriate behaviors. This team-centered approach provides for stronger relationships, more empowered caregivers, and an overall better quality of life for the individual served and their families.

Examples of Family/Caregiver Training:

• Modeling appropriate behaviors
• Parent education

A Timeline for Services

A Behavior Specialist will meet with you to complete a Functional Behavioral Assessment. This assessment will determine if behavior supports are needed. The assessment allows the person served to identify areas where he or she wants to make changes, and help the Behavior Specialist with determining why those inappropriate behaviors are occurring.

Upon the approval of the Functional Behavioral Assessment, the Behavior Specialist will create the Positive Behavioral Support Plan. This plan explains how the team is going to teach more appropriate replacement behaviors.

Upon approval of the Positive Behavioral Support Plan, the Behavior Specialist will regularly meet with the individual to provide education, training, and strategies to promote the success of the appropriate behavior. The Behavior Specialist also meets with the family/caregiver to provide training, guidance, and suggestions for the further reinforcement of appropriate behaviors.