Functional Behavior Assessments · Southeast Florida
Every effective ABA therapy program begins with a thorough Functional Behavior Assessment. Our board-certified BCBAs conduct comprehensive FBAs for children and young adults across Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe Counties — identifying exactly why behaviors occur and designing targeted interventions that actually work.
All Ages
BCBA-Led FBA
Foundation of every program
100%
BCBA-Supervised
Every session, every case
4
Counties Served
Miami-Dade · Broward · Palm Beach · Monroe
Bilingual
English & Spanish
Full services in both languages
What Is BCBA-Led FBA ABA Therapy?
A Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) is a structured clinical process used to identify why a specific behavior occurs. It does not ask what the behavior looks like — it asks what function the behavior serves for the child. Does the behavior get them attention? Does it help them escape a difficult task? Does it produce a sensory experience they need? Does it result in access to something they want? This window of time is when the brain is most flexible and most responsive to learning. Research consistently shows that children who begin intensive ABA therapy during these years make the largest and most lasting gains — in communication, social skills, adaptive behavior, and daily living.
The answer to that question is the foundation of every effective behavior intervention. Without it, strategies are guesses. An intervention that does not match the function of a behavior will either fail or make the behavior worse. An intervention designed specifically to address the function of a behavior is far more likely to succeed — and to produce durable, lasting change.
At Sunshine Behavioral Health Services, every ABA therapy program begins with a comprehensive BCBA-led Functional Behavior Assessment. We do not start therapy without one. The FBA is not a formality — it is the clinical foundation that makes everything else work. Learn more about how ABA therapy works →
What our FBA evaluates
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Current behavior patterns across all settings
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Antecedents — what happens immediately before the behavior
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Consequences — what happens immediately after the behavior
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Setting events — background factors that affect behavior
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The function of the behavior — what the child is getting from it
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Current skill strengths and developmental level
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Environmental and contextual factors
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Medical and health history relevant to behavior
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Input from parents, teachers, and other caregivers
All of this information is synthesized by the BCBA into a written FBA report that explains the function of the behavior and forms the basis of a targeted behavior intervention plan. The process begins with a thorough Functional Behavior Assessment and reviewed regularly by your child’s BCBA.
What the FBA Covers
Our Functional Behavior Assessment follows a structured, multi-method process. Here is what each phase involves.
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The BCBA gathers information through structured interviews with parents, teachers, and caregivers, as well as standardized rating scales and behavior checklists. This indirect phase builds the initial picture of when, where, and why behaviors occur from the perspective of the people who know the child best.
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The BCBA directly observes your child in the natural settings where the behavior occurs — at home, at school, or in the community. The BCBA records the antecedents and consequences of each behavior occurrence using structured data tools. This observation phase is essential because reported behavior and observed behavior often differ.
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For complex cases where the function of a behavior is not clear from indirect assessment and direct observation, the BCBA may conduct a systematic functional analysis — a controlled experimental procedure that directly tests hypotheses about behavior function. This step is used when precision is especially important for safety or treatment planning.
The FBA Process
The FBA process at Sunshine Behavioral Health Services starts with a Functional Behavior Assessment by a BCBA. The assessment evaluates your child’s current communication, play, social, and adaptive skills. It also looks at any challenging behaviors to understand what is maintaining them. This assessment is the foundation of everything that follows.
The BCBA conducts structured interviews with parents, teachers, and caregivers using validated assessment tools. These interviews gather detailed information about the behavior — what it looks like, when it happens, where it happens, how often, and what typically happens before and after it. This phase usually takes one to two hours.
The BCBA directly observes your child in the setting where the behavior most commonly occurs — at home, in the classroom, or in the community. The BCBA uses structured observation tools to record the antecedents (what happens before), the behavior itself, and the consequences (what happens after). Multiple observations may be needed to capture a complete picture.
After gathering indirect and direct data, the BCBA identifies the most likely function of the behavior — the reason your child engages in it. The four most common functions are: attention (getting a social response), escape (avoiding a task or situation), access (obtaining a preferred item or activity), and sensory or automatic reinforcement (producing a desired sensory experience). Most behaviors serve one primary function.
The BCBA writes a comprehensive FBA report that includes a summary of findings, the identified function of the behavior, a hypothesis statement, and a function-based behavior intervention plan (BIP). The BIP includes proactive strategies to prevent the behavior, teaching strategies to replace it with an appropriate alternative, and reactive strategies for how to respond when the behavior does occur. Learn about treatment planning → Parent training is built into every early intervention program.
The FBA process at Sunshine
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Parent and caregiver interview — 1 to 2 hours
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Direct observation in natural settings — multiple sessions
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BCBA conducts and signs off on all assessments
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Functional analysis if indicated for complex cases
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Written FBA report provided to family and school
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Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) developed from findings
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FBA reviewed and updated as behavior or goals change
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Results explained to family in plain language
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School and IEP team coordination included
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Bilingual services in English and Spanish available
Most insurance plans cover Functional Behavior Assessments
Florida law requires most insurance plans to cover ABA therapy and associated assessments including FBAs for children with an autism diagnosis. Our team verifies your coverage at no cost. Verify your coverage →
Types of FBA
Not every situation requires the same type of assessment. Here are the three types of FBA we conduct, and when each is appropriate.
Descriptive FBA
A descriptive FBA combines structured interviews with parents and teachers with direct ABC (Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence) observation in natural settings. This type of assessment is appropriate for most challenging behaviors and is the standard starting point for all new ABA therapy programs at Sunshine Behavioral Health Services. Read our toddler ABA guide →
Experimental Functional Analysis
A functional analysis is a controlled experimental procedure that directly tests hypotheses about behavior function by systematically manipulating the environment. It is indicated when a descriptive FBA does not produce a clear hypothesis — typically for severe, high-frequency, or self-injurious behaviors where the stakes of an incorrect hypothesis are significant.
School-Based FBA for IEP Purposes
A school-based FBA is conducted specifically in the classroom environment and is designed to inform an IEP-compatible Behavior Intervention Plan. Our BCBA observes the student during multiple school activities, interviews teachers and ESE staff, and produces a written report in the format required by the school district. Learn about school-based ABA → Read our preschool ABA guide →
What the FBA Produces
Many families wait too long before starting ABA therapy — often because they are told to “wait and see” or because they are not sure what they are looking for. These are some of the signs that suggest your child could benefit from an early intervention evaluation.
The BCBA reviews the full FBA report with your family in a meeting, explains the findings in plain language, and walks through the recommendations. You leave with a clear understanding of why the behavior is happening and exactly what to do about it. Schedule an FBA consultation → Read our full guide on signs to watch for →
The written FBA report includes:
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Background summary — referral reason, history, and current concerns
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Behavior description — precise, observable definition of the target behavior
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Data summary — results of interviews and direct observations
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Hypothesis statement — the most likely function of the behavior
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Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) with proactive, teaching, and reactive strategies
The Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) includes:
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Antecedent strategies — environmental changes that prevent the behavior
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Replacement behavior — an appropriate alternative that serves the same function
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Teaching strategies — how to systematically build the replacement behavior
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Reactive strategies — how to respond when the behavior does occur
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Data collection plan — how progress will be monitored over time
Questions about the FBA process? Contact our BCBA team → and we will walk you through exactly what to expect.
FAQ
A Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) is a structured clinical process used to determine why a specific behavior occurs — what function it serves for the child. The four most common behavioral functions are: attention (getting a social response), escape (avoiding a task or demand), access (obtaining a preferred item), and sensory or automatic reinforcement (producing a desired physical sensation). The FBA process involves structured interviews, direct observation, and when needed, experimental functional analysis.
An FBA is required because behavior interventions must match the function of the behavior to be effective. An intervention that ignores the function — or targets the wrong function — will either fail or inadvertently reinforce the behavior. At Sunshine Behavioral Health Services, we do not begin any behavior intervention program without first completing a comprehensive FBA. This is not just our policy — it is the standard of care in evidence-based ABA practice.
A typical descriptive FBA at Sunshine Behavioral Health Services takes one to two weeks from the initial interview to the final written report. This includes the caregiver interview (one to two hours), multiple direct observation sessions, data analysis, and report writing. More complex cases involving functional analysis may take longer. We move as quickly as the clinical process allows — most families receive their FBA report within two weeks of the first assessment session.
Yes. Functional Behavior Assessments are a covered ABA service under most Florida insurance plans for children with an autism diagnosis. Our team verifies your benefits at no cost before the assessment begins. For families whose children have IEPs, schools are also required under IDEA to conduct an FBA when considering a Behavior Intervention Plan — though school-based FBAs and clinical FBAs serve different purposes and we often conduct both. Verify your insurance →
Yes. We conduct standalone FBAs for families and schools that need a behavioral assessment but are not yet ready to start a full ABA therapy program, or that want a second opinion on a current behavior intervention plan. A standalone FBA produces a written report and BIP that you can use with any provider. Contact us to request a standalone FBA →
After the FBA, your BCBA presents the findings to your family, explains the function of the behavior, and reviews the Behavior Intervention Plan in detail. If you are starting a full ABA therapy program, the FBA results directly inform the individualized treatment plan and the goals your child’s therapist will work on from day one. If the FBA is for school purposes, the written report is provided to the IEP team for incorporation into the IEP. Learn about treatment planning →
Related Services
The FBA is the beginning of the clinical process, not the end. Here is what typically follows a completed assessment.
The FBA findings directly inform your child’s ABA therapy program. Whether that is in-home, school-based, center-based, or a combination, the treatment plan is built directly from the FBA results.
The Behavior Intervention Plan produced by the FBA includes strategies for parents and caregivers. Our parent training program teaches families how to implement these strategies consistently at home so the intervention works across all settings.
For school-age children, the FBA report is provided to the IEP team and can be incorporated into the school’s Behavior Intervention Plan. Our BCBA attends IEP meetings and coordinates the clinical BIP with the school’s program. Learn about school-based ABA →
Every ABA therapy program begins with the FBA and is guided by its findings throughout. Your child’s BCBA reviews progress regularly and updates the treatment plan as behavior and goals change. Learn about treatment planning →
Where We Serve
We conduct Functional Behavior Assessments across all major cities in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe Counties. In-home, school-based, and clinic-based assessments available.
The sooner therapy begins, the greater the impact. Contact Sunshine Behavioral Health Services today and we will verify your insurance, answer your questions, and schedule your child’s initial BCBA assessment — usually within days.
