Complex Behavior Program
Nationwide Children's Hospital's Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders Complex Behavior Program provides caregivers with effective strategies to help children reduce their dangerous or problematic behavior patterns and build alternative skills.
The program serves individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or other developmental disabilities who are between the ages of 2 and 22.
This program offers a range of evidence-based assessment and treatment services guided by the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA). Services are tailored to meet each family’s unique needs. Caregivers play an integral role in the treatment process.
We offer services in office, at home, within community settings, and by telehealth. Our office has specialized, state-of-the-art outpatient treatment rooms designed with safety in mind.
Services may be appropriate for children and youth who show serious problem behaviors, such as:
- Aggression, hurting themselves, running away (elopement,) eating non-food items (pica) and other disruptive behaviors
- Behaviors that cause serious injury or could harm themselves or others
- Behaviors resulting in a recent hospital or residential care stay
- A history of behaviors needing physical management and/or safety procedures
Our program aims to:
- Assess challenging behaviors using functional behavior assessment methods
- Develop goals based on the family’s priorities and the strengths of the child
- Create, evaluate and modify individualized treatment plans, emphasizing skill building
- Provide direct intervention to the child and/or training to caregivers and providers
- Ensure skills learned in treatment transfer to other situations and other people
- Teach safety management strategies to caregivers and providers
Services We Offer
Depending on the needs of your child and family, you will be referred to one of the following services:
- Consists of 2-hour sessions, twice per week for 16 to 20 weeks with follow-up as needed
- Occurs in a safe office setting as well as home, school, and community settings
- Focuses on direct intervention with the child, along with training and support of caregivers and providers
- Appropriate for children who demonstrate moderate to severe problem behavior
- Provides care that blends mental health approaches with applied behavior analysis (ABA) to patients with additional mental health diagnoses
- Consists of daily 2.5-hour sessions for 8-12 weeks with follow-up as needed
- Occurs in a safe office setting as well as home, school, and community settings
- Focuses on direct intervention with the child, along with training and support of caregivers and providers
- Appropriate for children who demonstrate severe problem behavior
- Provides care that blends mental health approaches with applied behavior analysis (ABA) to patients with additional mental health diagnoses
- Follow-up: Provide follow-up to Intensive Outpatient Program and Day Treatment services, as needed, to support the maintenance of new skills
- Family Consultation: Education and training for families regarding effective strategies regarding significant problem behavior
- Community Trainings: Education and training regarding significant problem behavior and effective strategies for community providers and school teams
- School Consultation: Support for school systems and their services for students with complex behavioral needs
Crisis Support
If you have concerns about serious injury to your child or others, call 911. Please review the "Crisis Information" tab here for mental health crisis support resources.
