Functional Behavioral Assessments

Functional Behavioral Assessments — Find the “Why,” Build the “What’s Next”

Families need clarity before they can make progress. A Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) identifies the reason a behavior occurs and converts that insight into a practical plan you can use at home, in class, and in the community. At RCG Health Network, we complete autism-informed, evidence-based FBAs that lead directly to action: clear goals, teachable replacement skills, and supports that fit real routines. Since 2012, our team has paired compassionate care with professional follow-through across ABA Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Therapy, and school preparatory programs—delivered in-center and in-home for better carryover.

What a Functional Behavioral Assessment Really Does

An FBA goes beyond describing a behavior. It answers three questions that drive change:

• What is happening? We define the behavior precisely—what it looks like, how long it lasts, how intense it is, and when it shows up.
• Why is it happening? We analyze antecedents (what happens right before) and consequences (what typically follows) to determine function—escape, attention, access to items/activities, or sensory regulation.
• What should we teach instead? We design a replacement behavior that serves the same function more appropriately, then outline how to prompt, practice, and reinforce it until it sticks.

When you understand the “why,” you stop guessing. You act with a plan.

When to Request an FBA

Ask for a functional behavioral assessment when daily life feels stuck. Maybe transitions to the car trigger meltdowns. Maybe mealtimes derail the evening. Maybe a classroom note mentions frequent calling out, leaving the seat, or difficulty with group routines. An FBA clarifies patterns early, so your family and your child’s team spend less time troubleshooting and more time teaching skills that matter.

A Family-Centered FBA Process

Intake with priorities. We begin by listening. You describe strengths, frustrations, and the moments you want to change first—morning routines, drop-offs, homework, bedtime, community outings, or recess. We review medical and school history so we build on previous work instead of repeating it.

Observation in natural and structured contexts. Children behave differently at home than in a clinic. We observe in both when appropriate. With your permission, we gather teacher input to align language and expectations across settings.

Measurement that matters. We collect data on frequency, duration, latency, intensity, and level of independence. We pair these measures with autism-relevant skill inventories to baseline communication, learning readiness, daily living, social participation, and regulation.

Hypothesis and verification. We analyze patterns to identify the most likely function. Then we test our hypothesis by adjusting antecedents and consequences in controlled ways. If behavior changes predictably, we’ve found the path forward.

Plain-language plan. You receive a written plan that translates findings into action. Instead of jargon, you see targets such as “request a break using a two-word phrase,” “wait with a visual timer for two minutes,” or “transition to the car within three minutes using first-then and a preferred item.” We include prompts that fade, reinforcement ideas, and short scripts you can use today.

Teaching Replacement Behaviors That Work

Replacement behaviors only stick when they meet the same need as the original behavior. If a child screams to escape a task, we teach a break request and build tolerance with brief work-then-break cycles. If grabbing toys secures access, we teach “my turn next,” use a timer, and reinforce waiting. If noise overwhelms, we teach regulation strategies and offer sensory-smart options without lowering the expectation to participate. The result is less stress and more participation—for your child and your family.

Communication First, Always

Communication reduces frustration and unlocks learning. During an FBA, we identify how your child currently communicates—speech, gestures, pictures, or AAC—and set functional language goals that tie directly to daily needs. We model simple, practical phrases (“help please,” “finished,” “break please,” “my turn next”) and coach caregivers to recognize and reinforce them across the day.

Sensory and Environment: Lower Effort, Raise Engagement

Behavior lives in context. Our OTs collaborate on the FBA to map sensory triggers—sound, touch, movement, visual complexity—and recommend supports that make participation easier: movement breaks, deep-pressure input, visual schedules, seating options, and predictable transitions. We simplify environments where possible without avoiding growth; the goal is to lower unnecessary effort so energy goes to learning.

How the FBA Drives ABA, OT, and Speech at RCG

Because RCG provides multiple services, the functional behavioral assessment becomes the anchor for a unified plan:

• ABA Therapy implements the behavior plan, teaches replacement skills, and builds routines for transitions and tolerance to change.
• Occupational Therapy develops regulation strategies, fine- and gross-motor foundations, and step-by-step self-care so daily living gets easier.
• Speech-Language Therapy expands functional language, receptive understanding, and social communication tied to real moments.
• Shared goals and consistent cues speed generalization from clinic to kitchen to classroom.

In-Center and In-Home Options

Some patterns appear only at home; others show up best in structured spaces. We offer FBAs in both settings and often blend them. A child may practice group routines in the center, then apply the same skills at school with teacher collaboration. Mealtime or morning routines are best assessed and taught in your actual environment. Wherever we work, we keep standards consistent and progress visible.

School Collaboration and IEP Alignment

With your consent, we translate FBA findings into classroom supports: first-then frameworks, visual schedules, predictable transition cues, flexible seating, and short practice opportunities during the day. We align with IEP teams so home, therapy, and school speak the same language. Consistency reduces confusion and accelerates progress.

Data You Can Understand—and Use

We collect only the data that drives decisions. Therapists track independence, prompts, frequency or duration, and recovery time across people and settings. Supervisors review graphs weekly and decide whether to advance, maintain, or adjust. When a goal hits criterion, we plan for generalization—new materials, places, and longer intervals—so skills hold outside therapy. You receive clear summaries, not just numbers, so you always know what changed and why.

Safety, Dignity, and Choice

Respect is part of clinical quality. We watch for assent and signs of discomfort, explain what will happen next, and offer choices wherever possible. Teams follow privacy and safety protocols and rehearse de-escalation as a skill, not a last resort. Children learn best when they feel safe, heard, and in control of reasonable choices.

Your First 60 Days With an FBA at RCG

• Weeks 1–2: Intake, observation, baseline measures, and initial caregiver strategies.
• Weeks 3–4: Plan review and launch; early wins often include clear requests replacing protests, shorter recovery after changes, and smoother transitions.
• Weeks 5–8: Weekly data reviews, small adjustments to prompts or reinforcement, and expansion to new settings and people.
• Beyond 8 weeks: Goal review, maintenance planning, and the next round of priorities as independence increases.

Why Families Choose RCG Health Network

Families tell us two things matter most: clear answers and steady follow-through. Across our network, 100% of families report professional responses to concerns; 96% feel confident in supervisory staff; 92% see noticeable progress toward goals; 95% are satisfied or very satisfied with overall quality; 98% agree schedules remain consistent week to week; and 100% of families receiving ABA, Speech, or OT report personalized therapy. Those outcomes start with a precise assessment and a team that keeps its promises.

Insurance, Access, and Scheduling

Coverage and authorization requirements vary by plan and state. Our administrative team explains benefits in plain language, helps you secure consistent weekly times, and updates documentation when rules change. We protect appointment slots so practice stays reliable and your week remains predictable.

Start With the “Why,” Move Toward “What’s Next”

If you’re considering a functional behavioral assessment, begin with a conversation. Tell us your top three priorities and the moments that feel hardest right now. We’ll outline the evaluation, schedule convenient sessions, and convert findings into a plan you can use this week. Clarity leads to action—and action leads to progress.

Contact RCG Health Network to schedule your FBA today.
Phone: 804-796-0073 • Email: [email protected]
• Address: 911 Sturbridge Drive, Richmond, VA 23236