The BIP Checklist

Mar 28, 2021

Writing your first (or 50th) Behavior Intervention Plan can seem daunting and time-consuming, but it doesn't have to be if you follow this checklist of information that should be included.

Before writing a behavior intervention plan, an FBA (functional behavior assessment) should be conducted to get information about the behaviors, functions, and other environmental information. This information will be used to create your behavior plan. The area's that should be discussed include:

Description of the indirect and direct assessments used
Data from the assessment
- Including rating scales like the MAS or QABF, ABC data, narrative description of observation, results from an FA, etc.
Detail any barriers or environmental conditions that might affect the behavior
Definitions for behaviors to decrease
- Must be objective, measurable, and include the function.
- Anyone reading your behavior definition should be able to know this behavior is and is not.
Definitions of behaviors to increase
- Remember, we need functionally appropriate replacement behaviors!
- Must be objective, measurable, and include the function they will be used for.
Goals for both behaviors to increase and decrease
- Should include detailed information of what the end goal should look like.
- Need mastery criteria information.
  - Mastery criteria for problem behaviors are for longer spans of time.
  - ex. Client will decrease instances of screaming (which would already be defined in the definitions section) to 1 or fewer instances per day across 30 consecutive therapy sessions.
Proactive/Antecedent Procedures
- What will you do before the behavior occurs
- List out the steps that are required to implement this procedure
- Examples:
  - Token system, visual schedule, providing choices, non-contingent reinforcement, etc.
Reactive/Consequence Procedures
- What will you do after or when the behavior occurs
- List out the detailed steps that are required to implement this procedure
- Should be based on function, NOT only topography
  - ex. "When client engages in aggression maintained by escape" vs "When client engages in aggression"
  - There might be specifics to include for different topographies though, like the reactive procedure for screaming for escape and hitting for escape would like different.
- Examples:
  - Extinction by each function, differential reinforcement, etc.
Risk/Benefit Analysis
- Must be included for EVERY procedure (antecedent and consequence-based).
- Example:
  - Procedure: Escape extinction
    - Potential Risks
      - Possible increased frequency and magnitude in behavior during initial phase (extinction burst)
      - Inconsistent implementation may variably reinforcer behavior making it more difficult to extinguish
      - Possible increase in behaviors in settings where procedure is not in place (behavior contrast)
    - Potential Benefits
      - Overtime reduces frequency and magnitude of behavior related to escape
      - Overtime increases in compliance to instructions and tasks
      - Increases ability to participate in the community for learning and social skill development
      - Procedure includes teaching of appropriate replacement behaviors
- TIP: create a library of these as you use different procedures to easily access them and individualize them for each client without having to rewrite it every time.
Identify who is responsible for implementation and monitoring
Describe the method of data collection and evaluation
Provide a date of when the plan will be reviewed and modified
- Typically every 3-6 months in a clinic setting for insurance purposes, but you should always be checking progress and updating the plan when needed.