Sunshine Behavioral Health Services
Functional Behavior Assessments in Key Largo, FL
At Sunshine Behavioral Health Services, we believe that every child deserves the right support to thrive at home, in school, and in the community. One of the most important tools we use to understand challenging behaviors is the Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA).
An FBA is a structured process that helps us identify why certain behaviors occur and what purpose they serve. Instead of focusing only on the behavior itself, we dig deeper to uncover the underlying causes. This approach allows us to create personalized strategies that reduce problem behaviors and encourage positive, independent skills.
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What Is a Functional Behavior Assessment?
A Functional Behavior Assessment is a step-by-step process where our board-certified team observes, gathers information, and analyzes data about your child’s behavior. By looking at patterns when and where behaviors happen, and what happens right before and after we can determine the “function” of the behavior.
The four most common functions we look for are:
- Gaining attention
- Avoiding or escaping tasks
- Seeking access to items or activities
- Sensory or automatic reinforcement
Why an FBA Matters
Without knowing the why behind behaviors, it’s easy to try strategies that don’t work or worse, make behaviors more challenging. An FBA helps ensure your child’s support plan is built on evidence and compassion, leading to better progress at home, school, and in therapy.
At Sunshine Behavioral Health Services, our goal is to build independence, confidence, and success in every child we serve.
How it works
Our Approach
Individualized Treatment Plans
Every child’s program is designed based on their strengths, needs, and family goals.
Evidence-Based Practices
We use proven ABA strategies supported by data and research.
Ongoing Progress Monitoring
Therapists track and analyze data daily to adjust treatment plans as needed.
Family Collaboration
Parents are active partners, learning strategies that can be applied outside the therapy center.
FAQ
Frequently Ask Questions
Our team collects background information, interviews parents and teachers, observes your child in different settings, and analyzes the data. From there, we develop a behavior intervention plan tailored to your child’s needs.
The timeline can vary depending on the child’s needs and the environments we need to observe. Typically, an FBA takes 2–4 weeks from the first observation to the delivery of the intervention plan.
A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) leads the assessment, sometimes with the support of a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) who assists in gathering observations and data.
Yes, if appropriate. We often collaborate with teachers, school staff, and other professionals to ensure we have a full picture of your child’s behavior across different environments.
We use the results to design a personalized Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP). This plan outlines strategies to reduce challenging behaviors and teach positive replacement skills.
Many insurance providers do cover FBAs, but coverage depends on your specific plan. Our staff can help you understand your benefits and guide you through the process.