What Families Need to Know About Behavior Support, Who Provides It, and How It Is Approved
If your loved one receives services through Florida's APD iBudget Waiver and has behavioral support needs, you may have heard terms like "behavior analyst," "behavior assistant," or "BASE review." This article explains what behavioral services actually are, how they get approved, and what they look like in daily life for individuals living in group homes.
What Are Behavior Analysis Services?
Behavior Analysis Services (BAS) are assessment, planning, and intervention services provided to individuals whose behaviors affect their health, safety, or ability to participate in daily life. These are not punitive or restrictive by nature — they are rooted in applied behavior analysis (ABA), a science-based approach that focuses on understanding why behaviors occur and building positive skills that allow individuals to engage more fully with their environment.
The goal of behavioral services under the iBudget Waiver is to reduce behaviors that create risk or limit independence, while building replacement skills that improve quality of life. For individuals in group homes, this might mean developing communication strategies, coping skills, community participation skills, or protocols that keep both the individual and those around them safe.
The Two Roles: Behavior Analyst and Behavior Assistant
Two distinct roles deliver behavioral services under the iBudget Waiver:
A Behavior Analyst designs, oversees, and monitors the behavioral support plan. They must hold licensure or certification at the time services are provided. Florida recognizes three qualification levels: Level 1 (board-certified behavior analyst at master's or doctoral level, or a licensed psychologist or counselor with more than three years of ABA experience); Level 2 (board-certified analyst or licensed clinician with at least one year of supervised ABA experience); and Level 3 (Florida-certified behavior analyst with a bachelor's or associate's degree, supervised monthly by a Level 1 or Level 2 analyst).
A Behavior Assistant implements the behavioral support plan under the supervision of the behavior analyst. They work directly with the individual day-to-day, providing the hands-on support that the analyst has designed. Behavior assistants must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED, and must complete specific training in applied behavior analysis and APD-approved emergency procedures.
How Behavioral Services Are Approved: The BASE Process
Before behavioral services can be added to an individual's cost plan, they go through a Behavior Analysis Services Eligibility (BASE) review. This is APD's process for ensuring that behavioral services are medically necessary and appropriately designed for the individual.
The BASE review is initiated by the individual's Waiver Support Coordinator (WSC), who submits a request with supporting documentation describing the behavioral concerns. The information needs to be specific — the nature of the behaviors, their frequency, their impact on the individual and others, and what has already been tried. Vague requests or provider-generated language copied without clinical detail often delay or complicate approval.
Once behavioral services are approved, a formal Behavior Analysis Services Plan is developed by the behavior analyst. This plan outlines the target behaviors, the replacement skills to be built, the intervention strategies, and how progress will be measured. Regular Case Reviews are conducted by the behavior analyst to track data, adjust strategies, and keep staff informed of progress.
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Behavioral Residential Designations: What They Mean for Placement
Not all group homes are equipped for behavioral support. The iBudget Waiver establishes distinct residential designations tied to behavioral need:
- Standard homes serve individuals with general support needs and no significant behavioral designation.
- Behavior-Focused (BFD) homes are for individuals whose behaviors include self-injury, aggression, significant property damage, or other patterns that require structured behavioral intervention and behavior analyst oversight.
- Intensive Behavior (IB) homes serve individuals whose behavioral needs cannot be safely met in standard or behavior-focused settings. These homes require nursing and psychiatric oversight, higher staffing ratios, and board-certified behavior analyst involvement.
- Enhanced Intensive Behavior (EIB) homes provide the most intensive residential behavioral support available under the waiver, for individuals with the most complex and high-frequency needs.
Referrals for group home placement are matched to the individual's behavioral designation — a standard client will not be referred to a behavioral home, and vice versa. If your loved one's needs change over time, their designation can be reviewed and updated through their WSC and APD.
What to Expect If Your Loved One Has a Behavioral Support Plan
If your family member has an active behavioral support plan, you should expect regular communication from their behavior analyst. Case reviews are conducted on a scheduled basis and include graphed data on target behaviors and replacement skills. As a family member or guardian, you can ask to be included in or informed of these reviews.
Support plans and behavioral services are individualized. The iBudget Waiver is built on a person-centered planning approach — meaning your family member's goals, preferences, and life vision should be the foundation of any behavioral support, not just their behavioral challenges.
Related Articles
- Understanding Your Loved One's Residential Habilitation Level — How the four iBudget Waiver designations determine group home placement.
- How Group Home Placement Works in Florida — The full referral and transition process explained.
About Audubon Gardens Group
Audubon Gardens Group operates two licensed 24-hour nursing residential care homes in Orlando, Florida — The Garden at Bennett and The Garden at Ibis. We serve medically acute and complex adults under Florida's APD iBudget Waiver, providing not just care, but a life genuinely worth living.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a behavior analyst under Florida's APD iBudget Waiver?
A behavior analyst designs and oversees behavioral support plans for iBudget Waiver recipients. They must hold licensure or certification in applied behavior analysis or a related field. Florida recognizes three levels based on credentials and experience. All behavioral services must be provided under a behavior analyst's supervision.
How do behavioral services get approved for my loved one?
Behavioral services are approved through a BASE (Behavior Analysis Services Eligibility) review initiated by the individual's WSC. Supporting documentation describing the nature, frequency, and impact of the behaviors is required. Once approved, a formal Behavior Analysis Services Plan is developed by a qualified behavior analyst.
What is a behavior-focused group home?
A behavior-focused (BFD) group home is a licensed APD facility specifically designated to serve individuals with behavioral challenges requiring structured intervention and ongoing behavior analyst oversight. These homes employ staff trained in applied behavior analysis and are subject to additional monitoring requirements.
Can my loved one's behavioral designation change over time?
Yes. Behavioral designations are tied to the individual's current needs, which can change with effective intervention, aging, health changes, or life circumstances. If your loved one's needs increase or decrease, their WSC can work with APD to update the designation through the appropriate review process.
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