A Closer Look at Behavior Management
Behavior Management, or Behavior Consultation, is one of several services that is offered through the Medicaid Waiver program. The term "Behavior" can be bit misleading; many individuals only consider a "behavior" to be negative actions, ones that we want an individual to stop engaging in. On the contrary, behaviors are any action(s) that are a response to something else, be that an internal or external stimulus. Behavior consultation is a process through which Target Behaviors (TB) are identified, and Replacement Behaviors (RB) are reinforced. It is not enough to simply identify what behavior we want to decrease or cease. There must be something that takes the place of the target behavior with a similar Function (or what maintains a behavior). If it were as simple as identifying the Target Behavior and saying, "Stop It!", there would be no need for Behavior Consultation! But as anyone who has attempted to stop a habit (smoking), change a lifestyle (get healthy, lose/gain weight) knows, its not as simple as just "stopping". |

· A Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) is completed (interviews, formal assessments, and observations)
· A Behavior Support Plan (BSP) is developed with outlined strategies to help individuals meet their goals.
· Therapist will train members of the support time to implement behavioral strategies.
· Data is collected and a quarterly report is provided showing the effectiveness of the strategies.
· Face-to-face sessions with the therapist are conducted at individual’s home, community, day program, workplace, or at the office.
· Therapists consult with the individual’s waiver support team and attend team meetings to assess the individualized support plan (ISP).
MBPSI Clinical Methods
MBPSI's clinical philosophy focuses on meeting the people where they are as an individual. That includes time, location and personality. MBPSI is dedicated to providing services days, afternoons, evenings, nights, weekends... whenever the need occurs.
MBPSI utilizes a hybrid approach that is matched with the strengths and needs of the individual and their family and support system. All techniques and approaches employed are multisystemic and multidimensional.
There are 6 specialization techniques that services are based upon:
*technique not indicated for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities
For more information:
· A Behavior Support Plan (BSP) is developed with outlined strategies to help individuals meet their goals.
· Therapist will train members of the support time to implement behavioral strategies.
· Data is collected and a quarterly report is provided showing the effectiveness of the strategies.
· Face-to-face sessions with the therapist are conducted at individual’s home, community, day program, workplace, or at the office.
· Therapists consult with the individual’s waiver support team and attend team meetings to assess the individualized support plan (ISP).
MBPSI Clinical Methods
MBPSI's clinical philosophy focuses on meeting the people where they are as an individual. That includes time, location and personality. MBPSI is dedicated to providing services days, afternoons, evenings, nights, weekends... whenever the need occurs.
MBPSI utilizes a hybrid approach that is matched with the strengths and needs of the individual and their family and support system. All techniques and approaches employed are multisystemic and multidimensional.
- Multisystemic, also known as wraparound, seeks to incorporate and utilize all the professional and natural supports available.
- Multidimensional uses any appropriate technique that may assist in moving the individual towards their goals
There are 6 specialization techniques that services are based upon:
- Applied Behavior Analysis
- Lovaas Method
- Cognitive Behavioral
- Rational Emotive Behavior*
- Dialectical Behavioral*
- NLP*
*technique not indicated for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities
For more information:
- Click here for more information on evidence based practices for autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities
- Click here for more information on applied behavioral analysis (ABA)
- Click here for more information on the Lovaas Method

The state of Indiana's Medicaid Waiver program offers Behavior Management Therapy (BMGO) with the following plans:
Family Support Waiver
For more information on the FSW or CIH Waiver, please visit the Disability and Rehabilitative Services webs
Family Support Waiver
- Formerly the Support Services Waiver, the FSW is designed to provide limited, non-residential supports to persons with developmental disabilities residing with their families, or in other settings with informal supports.
- CIH is a combination of the Autism and the Developmental Disability Waivers and provides services that enable persons to remain in their homes or in community settings and assists transitions from institutions into community settings. This is a needs-based waiver and is designed to provide supports for persons to gain and maintain optimum levels of independence and community integration while allowing flexibility in the provision of those supports.
For more information on the FSW or CIH Waiver, please visit the Disability and Rehabilitative Services webs