Applied Behavioral Interventions for Youth Summer LeFebvre, LCSW, Behavior Consultant & Chris Sturm, M.Ed., Behavior Consultant UAA’s Center for Human Development

What is Applied Behavior Analysis? ABA is a science focused on the understanding and improvement of human behavior ABA is a science focused on the understanding and improvement of human behavior Using ABA we: Using ABA we: Increase behaviors Increase behaviors Teach new skills/behaviors Teach new skills/behaviors Generalize behaviors to new situations Generalize behaviors to new situations Maintain new behaviors Maintain new behaviors Reduce the complex, interfering behaviors Reduce the complex, interfering behaviors Limit conditions where the complex behavior occurs Limit conditions where the complex behavior occurs

ABA’s Focus ABA focuses on… ABA focuses on… Behavior and its relationship to the environment – what we all can see Behavior and its relationship to the environment – what we all can see Clearly and explicitly defined procedures to describe how to change behavior Clearly and explicitly defined procedures to describe how to change behavior Laws of behavior that have been experimentally demonstrated Laws of behavior that have been experimentally demonstrated Primarily reinforcement and not punishment procedures Primarily reinforcement and not punishment procedures

ABA is… A = Applied Applied settings are used, such as: Applied settings are used, such as: Classrooms Classrooms Home environment Home environment Community settings Community settings Analyze Antecedents & Consequences Analyze Antecedents & Consequences What happens right before the behavior? Right after? What happens right before the behavior? Right after? What is in the environment that makes challenging behavior easier and more effective for that person ? What is in the environment that makes challenging behavior easier and more effective for that person ? The focus is on socially important behaviors. The focus is on socially important behaviors.

ABA is… B = Behavior “Behavior” means everything we do “Behavior” means everything we do Behavior is lawful Behavior is lawful Behavior can be defined, observed, predicted, and managed… and agreed upon by everyone Behavior can be defined, observed, predicted, and managed… and agreed upon by everyone Behavior is influenced by events and people just before and after the behavior has occurred Behavior is influenced by events and people just before and after the behavior has occurred This Includes Social Behavior This Includes Social Behavior

ABA… ABA… Increase specific behaviors Increase specific behaviors Decrease others BUT in positive ways (not through punishment procedures) Decrease others BUT in positive ways (not through punishment procedures) So when considering what behaviors to decrease, think of a new, more appropriate easy behavior to be increased So when considering what behaviors to decrease, think of a new, more appropriate easy behavior to be increased This easy behavior takes the place of the behavior decreased – the Replacement Behavior This easy behavior takes the place of the behavior decreased – the Replacement Behavior More About B = Behavior

Behavior Analysis & Interventions Focus is on observable behavior Focus is on observable behavior Measurement of behavior change Measurement of behavior change Emphasis on current environmental events and surrounding (including people) Emphasis on current environmental events and surrounding (including people) Antecedents  Behaviors  Consequences Behaviors are defined by their dimensions or properties Behaviors are defined by their dimensions or properties Intervention procedures are clearly described Intervention procedures are clearly described Intervention implemented by people in everyday situations – at home, in the community, at school Intervention implemented by people in everyday situations – at home, in the community, at school

ABA is… A = Analysis ABA is based upon daily data collection of challenging behaviors, interventions implemented and if… ABA is based upon daily data collection of challenging behaviors, interventions implemented and if… Behavior(s) were increased? Behavior(s) were increased? Behavior(s) were decreased? Behavior(s) were decreased? Treatment decisions are based on real-time, daily measurement of behavior Treatment decisions are based on real-time, daily measurement of behavior Show me the DATA Show me the DATA

Visualizing Problem Areas Communication Behavior Social Skills Communication Behavior Social Skills

Primary Tool – the FBA FBA is a Functional Behavioral Assessment FBA is a Functional Behavioral Assessment Not similar at all to the Functional Assessment (FA) Not similar at all to the Functional Assessment (FA) During this process, the following is done: During this process, the following is done: 1)Review of records and previous interventions 2)Interviews of individual, family, providers, other stakeholders 3)Direct observation across environments

1)Operationally define problem behavior(s) 2)Identify events/situations which predict when the problem behavior will/won’t occur 3)Identify the function the behavior(s) seem to serve 4)Develop summary statements which describe the behaviors, situations in which they occur, and what is maintaining them What’s reinforcing the behavior(s)? What’s reinforcing the behavior(s)? 5)Direct observation to see if the function is correct Show me the DATA Show me the DATA Functional Behavioral Assessment

Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) The BIP is developed collaboratively by the TEAM : 1)FBA results reviewed 2)Determine the Replacement & Preferred behaviors 3)Individual intervention for problem behavior What and how will new behaviors be prompted? What and how will new behaviors be prompted? 4)Programmatic interventions for team members What will staff do to actively prevent challenging behaviors and prompt for new behaviors? What will staff do to actively prevent challenging behaviors and prompt for new behaviors? 5)Progress monitoring Daily data collection & On-going evaluation Daily data collection & On-going evaluation

Access to attention (GET) Access to attention (GET) Access to a tangible item (GET) Access to a tangible item (GET) Food, Events, Games, People Food, Events, Games, People Escape (GET AWAY) Escape (GET AWAY) Attention, Demands, Non-preferred activities Attention, Demands, Non-preferred activities Automatic (GET) Automatic (GET) Self-stimulatory (not socially regulated) Self-stimulatory (not socially regulated) Behavior Serves 4 Broad “Functions”

Your/Staff/Caregiver behavior impacts your client. Your/Staff/Caregiver behavior impacts your client. Your client protests and he gets out of doing dishes. Your client protests and he gets out of doing dishes. Your client learns to protest to get out of chores. Your client learns to protest to get out of chores. Interaction is Bi-directional

Your client’s behavior impacts you.Your client’s behavior impacts you. Your client quits protesting when you let him out of doing dishes.Your client quits protesting when you let him out of doing dishes. You are more likely to allow him to escape chores to prevent/stop/remove protesting.You are more likely to allow him to escape chores to prevent/stop/remove protesting. Interaction is Bi-directional

Peers’ behavior impacts your client.Peers’ behavior impacts your client. Your client ignores her peer when they approach to talk.Your client ignores her peer when they approach to talk. Your client learns if she doesn’t respond, the other person will leave her alone.Your client learns if she doesn’t respond, the other person will leave her alone. Interaction is Bi-directional

Your client’s behavior impacts peers. Your client’s behavior impacts peers. Your client does not respond to peer’s initiation. Your client does not respond to peer’s initiation. The peer is less likely to approach because their initiations are not reinforced by your client. The peer is less likely to approach because their initiations are not reinforced by your client. Interaction is Bi-directional

Because we know behavior is lawful Because we know behavior is lawful It can be defined, observed, predicted, and managed, and It can be defined, observed, predicted, and managed, and It is influenced by events that happen after the behavior has occurred It is influenced by events that happen after the behavior has occurred We can intervene and change it! We can intervene and change it! Changing the Interaction

Antecedent Antecedent What happens right before the behavior? What happens right before the behavior? What in the environment tells the client something is here for me if I do X? What in the environment tells the client something is here for me if I do X? Behavior Behavior The only behaviors of concern are socially important and socially relevant behaviors. The only behaviors of concern are socially important and socially relevant behaviors. Consequence Consequence What happens right after? (reinforcing or maintaining consequence) What happens right after? (reinforcing or maintaining consequence) Consequence is important, but not for the reasons you think Consequence is important, but not for the reasons you think We need to find out what people “get” out doing something. We need to find out what people “get” out doing something. What is the behavior trying to tell us? What is the behavior trying to tell us? What is the function of that behavior? What is the function of that behavior? ABC’s of Behavior

Big Bang Theory with Sheldon & Penny Big Bang Theory with Sheldon & Penny Sheldon’s Antecedent Sheldon’s Antecedent What does he do/say that makes him the “A?” What does he do/say that makes him the “A?” Penny’s behavior Penny’s behavior What does she do in response? What does she do in response? What is the “C?” What is the “C?” ABCs or the 3-Term Contingency

By looking at what happened right before and after a behavior we understand the relationship between the environment and behavior By looking at what happened right before and after a behavior we understand the relationship between the environment and behavior A  B  C Antecedent Behavior Consequence AntecedentsBehaviorConsequence Son told “No” he can’t use the car Son arguesDad gives in and gives him the keys Daughter told to do a chore She mumbles & complains Parent gets upset… Observable A-B-Cs

Impacting Behavior Reinforcement/Punishment

We do something to get something We do something to get something Consequences are important, but not for what you might be thinking… like teaching a lesson Consequences are important, but not for what you might be thinking… like teaching a lesson Consequences tell us what people “get” from their behavior Consequences tell us what people “get” from their behavior What is the behavior trying to tell us? What is the behavior trying to tell us? What is the function of that behavior? What is the function of that behavior? One Point about Consequences…

ABC Wrap-Up ABCs are also known as the 3-Term Contingency ABCs are also known as the 3-Term Contingency Behavior does not occur in isolation. Behavior does not occur in isolation. It is affected by events that happen before and events that happen after. It is affected by events that happen before and events that happen after. In order to gain a clearer understanding of what is maintaining a behavior, we must look at all three pieces. In order to gain a clearer understanding of what is maintaining a behavior, we must look at all three pieces. Antecedent – Behavior – Consequence

Questions/ Comments Contact information Contact information Summer LeFebvre, LCSW, Behavior Consultant Summer LeFebvre, LCSW, Behavior Consultant (907) (907) Chris Sturm, M.Ed., Behavior Consultant Chris Sturm, M.Ed., Behavior Consultant (907) (907) UAA’s Center for Human Development 2702 Gambell Street, Suite #103 Anchorage, Alaska 99503