Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)

DISCLAIMER: This material is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor does it replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. Reference to a specific commercial product, service, or external web site does not imply endorsement or recommendation of that product, service, or external web site content by CPCMG. We attempt to keep lists of resources and referrals as up to date as possible; however, this information is constantly changing. Please check with the service provider and your insurance company to verify coverage.

Information and Resources for Families

A Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) is a structured process used by trained behavior specialists -such as Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) or school district teams- to understand why a child is engaging in challenging or unexpected behaviors.

While CPCMG does not conduct FBAs, we want to ensure families have the information and resources needed to access this support when it is recommended.

What Is the Purpose of an FBA?

Every behavior has a purpose, even when it appears unpredictable or difficult. An FBA helps identify the reason behind the behavior so families and providers can better support the child.

An FBA looks at:

What happens before the behavior (triggers)
What the behavior looks like
What happens after the behavior (responses from others)
What the child may be gaining or avoiding

FBAs look at the ABCs of behavior

Antecedents (A) - what activates or triggers the behavior
Behavior (B) - description of the behaviors that are challenging
Consequences (C) - how people are responding to your child’s behavior

Understanding these patterns is the first step in addressing behaviors effectively and compassionately.

What an FBA Includes

A complete Functional Behavior Assessment often involves:

1. Family Interviews

Families play a central role. You may be asked about:

Daily routines
What usually leads up to the behavior
What helps or worsens the situation
Caregivers know the child best - your insight guides the process.

2. Observations

A trained professional observes the child in natural settings such as home, school, or community. They look for:

Patterns
Environmental factors
How adults and other children respond

3. Data Collection

This can include:

Frequency (how often it happens)
Duration (how long it lasts)
Intensity (how strong it is)
Circumstances around the behavior
The goal is to find why the behavior keeps occurring.

4. Identifying the Function of the Behavior

Most behaviors fall into one of four categories:

Seeking attention
Attempting to escape or avoid something
Trying to get an item or activity
Meeting a sensory or regulation need

Once the function is identified, a plan can be created to better support the child.

How an FBA Helps

An FBA can lead to:

More effective behavior strategies
Improved communication skills
Reduced stress at home and school
Increased safety
Greater consistency across caregivers, teachers, and providers

Most importantly, an FBA helps adults understand the needs behind the behavior instead of focusing only on the behavior itself.

What Happens After an FBA?

The results are used to create a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) or support plan tailored to the child. This includes:

1. Prevention Strategies

Adjusting routines or environment to reduce triggers.

2. Replacement Skills

Teaching the child safer, more effective ways to communicate or cope.

3. Supportive Responses

Guiding how adults should respond during challenging moments to avoid reinforcing the behavior.

4. Positive Reinforcement

Building up the child’s strengths and celebrating progress.

Who Provides FBAs?

Families typically access FBAs through:

School Districts (as part of special education evaluation when appropriate)
ABA Therapy Providers (for children eligible for Applied Behavior Analysis)
Licensed Behavioral Health Professionals in the community

Insurance coverage and eligibility vary by program and provider.

Sample letter to Request a Functional Behavioral Assessment

PAVE provides a Sample Letter to Request a Functional Behavioral Assessment to help families formally ask the school to assess their child’s behavior and consider how to thoughtfully build a behavior support plan.

Click here for Sample letter: https://wapave.org/sample-letter-to-request-a-functional-behavioral-assessment/

How to participate in the FBA/BIP process
Click here: https://wapave.org/behavior-and-school-how-to-participate-in-the-fba-bip-process/

Where to Find FBA Resources

Families can look into:

School district special education departments (for school-based evaluations)
- FBAs can be requested through an IEP or 504 Plan process
- Conducted by school psychologists or behavior specialists
- No cost to families if eligibility criteria are met
Behavioral health insurance networks
- FBAs as part of psychological or neuropsychological evaluations
- Especially helpful when behavior overlaps with emotional, developmental, or cognitive concerns
- Often private pay or partially reimbursable via insurance
ABA therapy providers
- FBAs are often the first step before starting ABA treatment
- Can be conducted in natural environments (home, daycare, community)
Regional Centers
- For individuals with qualifying developmental disabilities
- May fund or coordinate FBAs through approved vendors