Trauma Assumed Approach
Practical Functional Assessment - Skills Based Training
Practical Functional Assessment – Skills Based Training (PFA-SBT) is suitable for individuals of all ages who display severe problem behaviors. These behaviors include, but are not limited to, self-injury, property destruction, aggression towards others, and other significantly disruptive actions.
Common Questions
What is PFA?
A Practical Functional Assessment, or PFA, is an assessment process based on the assumption that problem behaviors are maintained by various functions. These functions can include access to attention or items, escape or avoidance from certain activities, or because the behavior feels physically, mentally, or emotionally satisfying.
By operating under the assumption that problem behaviors are maintained by all these functions, we are in a better position to reduce them effectively and compassionately. Additionally, it allows us to focus on establishing trust, building rapport, and ensuring the safety of the participant and all others.
Specifically, we set up the environment to provide access to these three reinforcement functions. Then we present the identified establishing operations (e.g., a given instruction, a denied request, an activity interruption, etc.). This allows us to demonstrate the connection between specific establishing operations.
Importantly, the goal of this process isn’t to elicit problem behaviors. Instead, it’s to identify the earliest behavior in the escalation chain and reliably interrupt that behavior within about 10 seconds, and do so consistently over 3-5 instances. This will ensure that the correct conditions that elicit the problem behaviors are identified and that the provider can turn off problem behaviors quickly and consistently.
What is SBT?
Skills-Based-Training is a systematic ABA approach focusing on behavior reduction and skills acquisition. Specifically it is a task analysis that uses shaping to achieve the following:
- Developing a relationship through positive pairing between the individual receiving the services and the provider. The aim is to establish a positive rapport and help the individual achieve a state referred to as “Happy, Relaxed, and Engaged” (also known as HRE)
- Using a simple to complex functional communication that allows them to easily advocate their desire to continue doing something of interest to them
- Learning and utilizing a toleration response when their activity of choice is interrupted without demonstrating problem behaviors
- Learning and relinquishing preferred stimuli upon request
- The transition from an area and state of HRE to another environment or condition as appropriate
- Prepare to engage in a task assigned or directed by others.
- Learn to tolerate and engage in some “work” until they develop the tolerance to complete the full and complete tasks at the highest standards of performance.
- Learn and accept work conditions that best resemble the realities of everyday life.
Is ABA STEPS, LLC Qualified?
All staff at ABA STEPS, LLC are trained to at least a level 3 credential.
A level 3 credential indicates that they have satisfied FTF’s credentialing criteria. This includes completing a course that explains and demonstrates how to conduct PFA-SBT. Upon completing the course, they undergo rigorous, supervised training to ensure they can effectively apply these skills with multiple participants with high fidelity. Our aim is to assist participants who have exhibited severe problem behaviors discontinuing engaging in them, while fostering their enthusiasm and active engagement in learning activities.
Some of our RBTs have achieved a level 4 credential. This means they meet all requirements of a level 3 and can also effectively write, develop, and implement a PFA-SBT plan.
All of our BCBAs receive training ranging from level 4 to level 6. A level 6 training signifies that they have fulfilled all of FTF’s criteria. Individuals at this level are proficient in everything a level 4 provider can do. In addition, they have demonstrated the capability to design and execute a generalization and maintenance program (level 5). Furthermore, they have proven to be proficient teachers and coaches of the PFA-SBT model.
What are your forms of service delivery?
ABA STEPS, LLC offers PFA-SBT directly to our participants in the following formats:
- For participants aged 18 months to 5 years, services are provided in a 1:1 setting. This is combined with our PLS model. Those enrolled in our Early Learners Program attend the day program. They are pulled out for daily 1:1 SBT sessions and then return to the PLS-modeled social skills group.
- For participants aged 6 and older, services are provided in 1:1 settings. Additionally, a day program will be introduced for qualifying individuals in early spring of 2024.