Establishing a Behavior Support Plan

What Is a Behavior Support Plan?

A Behavior Support Plan (BIP) is a personalized, proactive plan developed to address and manage challenging behaviors in children or teens. It includes specific strategies to prevent problem behavior, teach replacement skills, and respond consistently when behaviors occur.

These plans are often used in schools and therapy settings, especially for children with behavioral disorders, developmental disabilities, or those receiving special education services under an IEP (Individualized Education Program).

If your child is showing signs of escalating behavior, a BIP may be the next step in providing structured, consistent support. Learn how NJCMO supports children with behavioral disorders.

What Is the Purpose of a Behavior Support Plan?

The purpose of a BIP is to replace negative or disruptive behaviors with more positive, functional ones—through support, not punishment. These plans focus on identifying why a behavior happens and providing tools to help your child respond differently.

A well-crafted BIP helps children:

• Manage emotional responses more effectively
• Improve behavior at home and school
• Meet social and academic expectations
• Receive consistent guidance from all adults involved

This plan can be especially impactful for children with developmental challenges. Explore how NJCMO supports behavioral needs in children with developmental disabilities.

How to Create a Behavior Support Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide for Families

The creation of a BIP starts with understanding your child’s behavior in context. This often involves a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA), conducted by a psychologist, behavioral specialist, or school team.

As a caregiver, you’re a critical part of this process. Your observations, feedback, and consistency at home will help the plan succeed.

Steps to Creating a BIP:

1. Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA): Helps identify patterns, triggers, and consequences of behavior.
2. Describe the Behavior Clearly: Use specific, observable terms (e.g., “throws items when asked to clean up”).
3. Set Behavioral Goals: These goals should be measurable, realistic, and supportive. See behavioral IEP goals for students with autism for ideas.
4. Identify Triggers and Responses: Understand what causes the behavior and what follows it.
5. Teach Alternative Skills: Your child will learn healthier ways to get their needs met—such as using words or visual signals.
6. Develop Support Strategies: This may include calming tools, schedules, breaks, or safe spaces.
7. Clarify Who Will Follow the Plan: Everyone from teachers to caregivers should follow the same strategies.
8. Review and Adjust: Monitor progress and update the plan regularly with the support team.

Families often benefit from wraparound services for behavioral issues, which offer holistic support beyond the classroom.

Behavior Support Plan Example for Parents

Let’s say your child has autism and has difficulty with verbal outbursts during transitions at school. Here’s what a sample BIP might include:

• Target Behavior: Yelling or verbal outbursts during transitions between activities
• Trigger: Unexpected changes in routine or unclear instructions
• Replacement Skill: Using a visual cue card or phrase like “I need help”
• Prevention Strategies: Provide a visual schedule, use a timer to prepare for transitions, and offer choices
• Positive Reinforcement: Token rewards, praise, or extra free time when transitions are managed calmly
• Emergency Plan: Allow access to a calm-down corner or safe space if distress escalates

This plan would be shared among the IEP team and family, and regularly updated to meet the needs of the child. See how at-risk youth benefit from structured behavioral supports.

Who Should Follow the Behavior Support Plan?

For a BIP to work, everyone involved in your child’s care should follow it. That includes:

• Parents and caregivers (you!)
• Teachers and support staff
• Paraprofessionals or one-on-one aides
• Behavioral therapists or counselors

At home, try using the same strategies and language that your child’s teachers use at school. This consistency helps your child feel safe and successful. Need help supporting your child academically? Learn how to help a child struggling in school.

Behavioral Goals for IEP: A Guide for Parents

BIPs are often tied to IEPs, and they include goals that reflect your child’s specific needs. For children with autism, setting clear and achievable goals is especially important for promoting self-regulation, communication, and appropriate classroom behavior.

Here are a few examples of behavioral IEP goals for students with autism:

• “Students will use a break card or signal to appropriately request a break from tasks when overwhelmed, 4 out of 5 times.”
• “Students will transition between activities with no more than one verbal prompt, in 80% of observed opportunities.”
• “Students will maintain personal space and refrain from physical contact with peers during structured group activities, 4 out of 5 days per week.”
• “Students will increase appropriate peer interactions (e.g., greetings, sharing) during social play to 3 instances per session with minimal prompting.”

These behavioral IEP goals are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Caregivers can support these goals by reinforcing them at home. Ask your child’s IEP team to explain how progress will be measured and how you can align strategies at home and school.

Want to learn about therapies that reinforce behavior goals? Explore Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for children and teens.

Additional Resources

• 6 Common Behavioral Disorders in Children: Signs and Symptoms
• Behavioral Disabilities vs. Behavioral Disorders: Key Differences

NJCMO Is Here to Support Your Family

At NJCMO, we’re dedicated to helping parents and caregivers find the support they need to help their child thrive. Whether your child has been diagnosed with a behavioral disorder or you’re still searching for answers, we connect families with services, therapy options, and care coordination.

If you believe your child could benefit from a Behavior Support Plan or wraparound support, reach out to NJCMO. You’re not alone—and we’re here to help every step of the way.

FAQs: Helping Your Child With a BIP