What Is a Behavior Reduction Plan?
A behavior reduction plan, also called a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP), is the supervisor’s written protocol for decreasing a problem behavior.
The RBT is responsible for implementing the plan exactly as written.
The effectiveness of the plan depends on every implementer responding consistently.
Components of a Behavior Reduction Plan
A written behavior reduction plan includes:
- Operational definitions of each target behavior, including:
- Onset
- Offset
- Episode rules
- The identified or hypothesized function of each behavior based on the functional assessment
- Antecedent modifications (prevention strategies)
- Replacement behaviors that will be taught to serve the same function as the problem behavior
- Consequence modifications, including:
- How staff respond when the problem behavior occurs
- How staff respond when the replacement behavior occurs
- The persons responsible for each component of the plan
- Emergency or crisis procedures for dangerous behavior escalation
The RBT’s Responsibilities
Know the Plan Before the Session
The RBT must read and understand the behavior reduction plan before implementing it.
Not knowing what the plan says is never an acceptable excuse.
Implement Every Component
The RBT must consistently implement:
- Antecedent (prevention) strategies
- Teaching replacement behaviors
- Consequence procedures
The plan involves more than just responding after the behavior occurs.
Collect Required Data
Collect the data specified in the plan for both:
- The problem behavior
- The replacement behavior
Communicate With the Supervisor
Promptly report:
- Implementation drift
- Confusion about procedures
- New behaviors
- Situations where the plan is not working as intended
Do Not Modify the Plan
The RBT should never:
- Add procedures
- Remove procedures
- Change procedures
based on personal judgment.
If any part of the plan seems unsafe, unclear, or unworkable, the RBT should contact the supervisor immediately rather than improvise.
Why Consistency Matters
Consistent implementation is essential.
If staff respond inconsistently, the problem behavior may be reinforced intermittently.
As learned in Module 1 (Lesson 1.4), intermittent reinforcement can make a behavior stronger and more resistant to extinction.