Service Delivery: Functional Approach to Challenging Behaviors
Positive behavioral supports are designed to promote behavioral change. The function of inappropriate behavior is determined through observation and analysis and the child is taught alternative appropriate behaviors to serve the same function. Proactive strategies to prevent problem behaviors may include:
• Modifying antecedent or setting events;
• Implementing consequence strategies;
• Using highly preferred materials or activities (as teaching materials, motivators, and
reinforcers);
• Alternating preferred and non-preferred activities; and
• Prompting or modeling appropriate responses, with gradual prompt fading (HCPSS, 1998).
