Positive Approaches to Challenging Behavior

Once the interventions are in place and the child or adult and team team members have completed the brainstorming session and chosen interventions that are a good fit, it is time to write the PBS plan. A written plan can be helpful as a way to combine all of the information about positive supports for someone into a unified plan of action. This makes it easier for family, caregivers, or staff to keep all the elements moving forward. PBS plans vary in size and complexity. Larger plans have multiple positive supports and interventions addressing each area of the hypothesis statement (setting event interventions, antecedent intervention, teaching new skills to replace challenging behavior, and consequence interventions).

A written PBS plan will have the following features:

• Identifying information, reasons for the plan, summary of child or adult's positive characteristics and strengths
• Description of the problem behavior(s)
• Summary of the hypothesis statement
• Describe the interventions
• Crisis prevention plan as necessary)
• Quick one-page easy to access review

A quick one-page review can be a helpful resource for families and staff. A summary of important interventions that is easy to read and can be used during everyday routines where the interventions are implemented is an important way to increase use of the interventions and help people remember all of the steps involved.

Learn more about PBS Plans and Selecting Interventions for addressing each element of the hypothesis statement

Visit the Behavior Support Plan: Competing Behavior Pathway for a blank copy of a behavioral support plan.

Module 4 will address more about PBS planning including using data to assess progress and make improvements and long-term planning.