The Department of Public Welfare has been strongly recommending that all treatment plans for children and adolescents with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) be based on a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA). In support of this recommendation, the Bureau of Autism Services has provided training to Behavior Specialist Consultants and others in conducting and using FBA. The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has released a draft bulletin encouraging the use of FBA in treatment plan development and signaling an OMHSAS intention to require FBA training and the universal use of this procedure in the future by Behavior Specialist Consultants serving consumers with an ASD. A copy of the draft bulletin is available from the link. OMHSAS is soliciting comments on this draft bulletin to be submitted by email no later than March 31. Comments on the draft bulletin must be sent to ra-FBAcomments@state.pa.us. Members are encouraged to also send their comments to Connell O’Brien as guidance for the PCPA response.
OMHSAS describes Functional Behavioral Assessment as a "process for identifying problem behaviors and determining the environmental events that predict that predict and maintain them. During the FBA process, the context for the behavior is examined to determine the factors associated with the occurrence and non-occurrence of the behaviors. The behaviors of concern are defined, antecedent events that predict the occurrence and non-occurrence of these behaviors are analyzed, and hypotheses are developed to identify the consequences of the behaviors."
