A BIP acts as a map to help an ABA therapist, their team, parents or caregivers, and teachers help a child with behavioral challenges. It creates a supportive environment where children can learn and grow to become more independent and find more joy in their lives.
Learn more about what a BIP plan is and how it can help your child below.
What Is a Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP)?
A behavior intervention plan is a written behavioral improvement plan for children who struggle with dysfunctional behaviors. It can be used both for school and ABA therapy. It provides directions for all those involved to help replace maladaptive behaviors with positive ones.
BIPs are individualized to each child’s needs based on their functional behavioral assessment (FBA). A BIP can be a single page or multiple pages, depending on the child’s needs and the behaviors the BIP is targeting.
What Is Included in a BIP?
A BIP can include:
- An FBA
- Behavior goals
- Strategies to address behaviors
How each of these factors works together is discussed further below.
Who Benefits from a BIP?
Many children can benefit from a BIP if they show continuous dysfunctional behaviors. BIPs are often used for those with:
- ADHD
- Autism
- Bipolar disorder
- Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
BIPs can also be helpful for adults who want to support a child but aren’t sure how to do so. A BIP provides ways to manage behaviors both at school and at home.
Why Are BIPs Important?
A BIP is important because it’s the best way to provide a supportive environment to a child struggling with maladaptive behaviors. A BIP explains the best way to assist a child in a way that everyone can understand. This empowers teachers, parents, and caregivers to use these strategies to create positive change in their child’s life.
It’s also a structured support in difficult situations where emotions are running high—both for the child and adults.
Finally, as already mentioned, they are customized to each child’s needs, ensuring they are being addressed appropriately. With a properly implemented BIP, a child can improve their social, motor, adaptability, and other essential developmental skills.
How Does a BIP Work?
A BIP works in six steps.
- Receiving a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)
An FBA is a crucial part of creating and implementing a BIP. An FBA will use the following data to create a better picture of a child’s needs:
- Direct observation of
- How often do maladaptive behaviors occur
- How a child acts with other people
- How intense the maladaptive behavior is
- Why the maladaptive behavior occurs
- Interviews with multiple loved ones
- Tests/homework
- Any previous health records
This information defines why a child is using maladaptive behaviors so others can understand the child better. When people realize that a child is not just acting out but that there is a reason for it, they are better able to respond to the child and their behaviors.
- Establishing Behavior Goals
Once the FBA is completed, an ABA therapist will create specific, actionable goals based on their findings. They will define the goals, the various strategies needed, and when the child should start showing changes. These goals and timelines are initial estimates and may change slightly once implementation begins.
- Explaining the BIP to Others
The next step is involving everyone in the child’s environment. The ABA therapist should explain the BIP to any parents, siblings, caregivers, or teachers who will be involved. Everyone must understand the plan so they can go into implementation confidently. A cohesive, supportive environment is key to a successful BIP.
- Implementing the BIP
Now, it’s time to put the BIP into action. The plan should be active throughout the day, every day. Consistency across all environments and strategy implementation are crucial to meeting the BIP goals. As time passes, the team must record progress through various measuring tools. These tools can include a checklist, daily report cards, and recording each day.
- Assessing Progress
Once enough time has passed, enough information will be gathered to evaluate whether the plan is working. Using the data collected, the ABA therapist can assess whether progress is being made or adjustments need to be made.
If the BIP is working as intended, the team should take a moment to celebrate the progress with the child. This will keep everyone motivated throughout the process.
- Adapt as Things Change
If the BIP is no longer working, then changes must be made—luckily, high-quality BIPs are easily adjustable. The BIP could not be working for a variety of reasons:
- The reasons for the behaviors are wrong
- The reinforcements aren’t enticing to the child
- The child’s needs have changed
- The child no longer displays a particular behavior
Discover Positive Change with Spectrum Behavioral Therapies
Do you live in California, and are you looking for help for your autistic child? Spectrum Behavioral Therapies can help. Our ABA therapy service creates customized BIPs and offers parent training so caregivers can be more proactive. We also work with schools so your child can have a supportive environment everywhere they go.
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