Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) for Children with Autism in California

A Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)is a process used to understand why certain behaviors occur and what purpose they serve. By finding the reason behind a behavior, we can create strategies that truly help your child learn positive ways to express themselves.

What an FBA Includes:

• Observation: Watching your child in home, school, or therapy settings to see when behaviors occur.
• Parent & Caregiver Interviews: Talking with those who know your child best to gather insight.
• Data Collection: Recording when, where, and why behaviors happen to find patterns.
• Identifying Triggers: Understanding what situations or events lead to the behavior.
• Determining Function: Discovering the “why” behind the behavior (to get attention, avoid tasks, or meet a sensory need).
• Behavior Support Plan: Creating a customized plan that replaces challenging behaviors with positive, functional ones.

At Emerald Behavioral Services, our goal is to empower both children and families with understanding, tools, and support to create meaningful and lasting progress.