How Behavior Plans Are Created

When a child’s behavior starts to feel confusing, frustrating, or hard to manage, it’s easy for families to feel unsure about what to do next. That’s where behavior intervention plans, sometimes referred to as “Behavior Improvement Plans,” come in. 

A BIP is more than a list of rules or strategies—it’s a roadmap designed specifically for your child, created through careful assessment and collaboration between families, Behavior Analysts, and educators. With the right plan, challenging behaviors become opportunities for learning and growth. 

Understanding the foundation: The FBA 

Every effective behavior plan begins with understanding why a behavior happens. This first step is called a functional behavior assessment (FBA). It’s a structured process that helps your ABA team uncover the purpose—or “function”—behind certain behaviors so they can build positive, lasting change. 

Identifying the function of behavior 

In ABA therapy, every behavior has a reason. A child may act out to get attention, avoid a difficult task, seek a sensory experience, or express frustration they can’t yet put into words. 

During an FBA, behavior analysts observe when and where behaviors occur, collect data, and look for patterns using a framework called ABC data: 

• Antecedent: what happens before the behavior 
• Behavior: what the child does 
• Consequence: what happens immediately after 

This process helps the team see what triggers behaviors and what keeps them going, laying the groundwork for meaningful intervention. 

Common functions in autism 

For children diagnosed with autism, behaviors often serve one or more of the following functions: 

• Escape or avoidance: avoiding tasks that feel overwhelming 
• Attention: seeking social reactions from adults or peers 
• Access to tangibles: wanting a specific toy, food, or activity 
• Sensory input: seeking stimulation or relief from discomfort 

Identifying the function gives your ABA team a clear starting point. Instead of trying to stop a behavior, the plan focuses on teaching new, more effective ways for your child to meet that same need. 

The role of data in creating plans 

Data collection keeps behavior plans objective and personal. Your child’s BCBA tracks when behaviors occur, how intense they are, and what seems to influence them. 

Over time, this information shapes the behavior intervention plan so it’s based on real patterns—not assumptions. Data also helps track progress and guide any future changes to keep your child moving forward. 

Key elements of a behavior intervention plan 

Once the FBA is complete, your child’s BCBA creates a behavior plan tailored to their unique needs. Every plan looks different, but most include three essential components: replacement behaviors, reinforcement strategies, and environmental supports. 

Replacement behaviors 

A successful plan focuses on teaching, not punishing. The goal is to replace challenging behaviors with more appropriate ones that serve the same purpose. 

For example, if a child yells to get attention, their plan might include teaching them to tap someone’s shoulder, use a communication card, or say “Look!” 

Replacement behaviors are clear, achievable, and always modeled with patience and consistency, helping children learn what to do instead of what not to do. 

Reinforcement strategies 

Reinforcement means rewarding positive behaviors to encourage them to happen more often. ABA therapists use many types of reinforcement, depending on what motivates your child. 

This might include: 

• Verbal praise or high fives 
• Access to favorite toys or activities 
• Tokens that build toward a bigger reward 

Over time, reinforcement shifts from rewards to natural satisfaction, helping children take pride in their own progress. 

Environmental modifications 

Sometimes small changes in the environment make a big difference. Your child’s plan may include adjustments such as: 

• Visual schedules or picture cues 
• Predictable transitions between activities 
• Reduced noise or distractions in learning spaces 
• Structured breaks to prevent sensory overload 

These changes set children up for success before a challenging behavior even begins. 

Collaborating with families and schools 

No behavior plan works in isolation. The most effective plans bring parents, teachers, and clinicians together to create consistency across home, school, and therapy. 

Parent input and consistency 

Parents are essential partners in the process. You know your child’s routines, triggers, and preferences better than anyone else. Your insight helps shape a plan that feels realistic for daily life. 

At Children’s Specialized ABA, collaboration is built into every stage, from autism assessment to ABA services. We help families learn how to use strategies at home so children receive the same support everywhere they go. 

Aligning ABA plans with school IEPs 

When a child receives services at school, their behavior plan often connects to their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Your ABA team can work alongside teachers and school psychologists to align goals and strategies. 

This ensures that expectations stay consistent, so a child learning to raise their hand in therapy also practices that same skill in class. Coordination between home, school, and clinic settings builds confidence and helps progress generalize. 

Communication and follow-through 

Behavior plans thrive on clear, ongoing communication. Families and schools share updates on what’s working, where struggles occur, and how the child is responding. 

Regular check-ins with your BCBA make it easy to tweak strategies, add new goals, or celebrate wins together. 

Monitoring and adjusting plans over time 

A behavior plan isn’t meant to stay the same forever—it’s a living document that changes as your child grows. 

What progress looks like 

Progress might mean fewer challenging behaviors, quicker recovery after frustration, or more independence in using communication tools. Each child’s progress looks different, and celebrating every step is an important part of the journey. 

Your ABA team will track data weekly or monthly to measure how often and how intensely target behaviors occur, ensuring changes reflect real progress. 

When to revise 

If a strategy stops working or new behaviors appear, it’s time to review the plan. Regular updates keep goals fresh and meaningful. 

Your BCBA will analyze recent data, review any environmental changes, work with your family to adjust reinforcement or add new replacement behaviors as needed and make sure you know how to implement the plan updates.  

Ensuring the plan stays individualized 

Every child’s needs evolve with time, so no plan should ever feel “cookie-cutter.” At Children’s Specialized ABA, individualized care is at the heart of what we do. Each behavior plan grows alongside your child, supporting new skills, challenges, and opportunities. 

Moving forward with confidence 

A well-designed behavior plan builds understanding, communication, and trust between children and their caregivers. 

When guided by a thorough FBA and supported through ongoing collaboration, a BIP helps turn challenges into moments of learning and connection. 

At Children’s Specialized ABA, our clinicians work closely with families and schools to create meaningful, data-driven strategies that empower children to succeed in every environment. 

To learn more about ABA services, explore helpful resources for parents, or schedule an autism assessment, contact us today. We’re here to help you move from assessment to action—one step at a time.