Behavioral Services
This page provides information about behavioral services through the Developmental Disability waivers in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The THERAPEUTIC BEHAVIORAL CONSULTATION SEARCH ENGINE may help you locate service providers, while professional resources and training videos are included for behaviorists and also for those that want to learn more about behavioral science. Additionally, content and resources about quality reviews are provided.
Therapeutic consultation is a service available through the FIS and CL waivers. Presently, it includes several therapies, such as speech/language, occupational therapy, and behavioral consultation. Such services may assist in helping implement a person’s individual support plan. In addition to the waiver regulations, the provider manual may be a resource for readers (select Developmental Disabilities Waivers).
In addition, this brief Therapeutic Behavioral Consultation overview video may also be helpful to individuals and families in understanding more about this service, though it is important to note that this video is not an overview of regulations or the provider manual.
The DBHDS/DMAS Practice Guidelines for Behavior Support Plans offers basic guidelines on the minimum elements that constitute an adequately designed behavior support plan through the Developmental Disability Medicaid waivers in Virginia (i.e. functional behavior assessment, behavioral measurement).
Use the THERAPEUTIC BEHAVIORAL CONSULTATION SEARCH ENGINE to locate behaviorists that deliver this service.
Please complete this form to have your organization listed. Accordingly, providers must be enrolled with DMAS for the therapeutic consultation waiver service to be listed on the search engine.
Presently, there are two primary provider types that deliver therapeutic consultation behavioral services in Virginia: Positive Behavior Support Facilitators (PBSF) and Board Certified Behavior Analysts®/Licensed Behavior Analysts (BCBA®/LBA).
The DBHDS/DMAS Practice Guidelines for Behavior Support Plans outline the required content areas and minimum elements for behavioral programming through the therapeutic consultation waiver service (e.g. FBA). Additionally, information on positive behavior supports, person centered behavior planning, and trauma informed care is included. Related resources are below:
- Behavior Support Plan Adherence Review Instrument (BSPARI) provides a quality score related to the Practice Guidelines. Additionally, the BSPARI Scoring Instructions and Feedback Guide outlines the scoring and quality review process.
- An optional behavior support plan template is available here.
- In 2024, the creators of the BSPARI, in collaboration with Dr. Neil Deochand at Mississippi State University, published work on quality assurance. Specifically, the publication includes an overview of existing quality assurance instruments and offers information about policy and practice in the field. See a read-only version here: “The Development of a Behavior Plan Quality Assurance Instrument in a Publicly Funded System of Care“.
- Lastly, see a brief video overview of these efforts here.
To review reporting data, visit this page and find the reports labeled “Behavioral Supports Report”.
ABC Data and Conditional Probabilities, Part 1
ABC Data and Conditional Probabilities, Part 2
Graphical Displays and Visual Analysis
Informed Consent and Legal Status
Initial Plan Date and Revisions
Archives for Behavior Analysis in Practice
Archives for Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
ABAI (Association for Behavior Analysis International)
ACBS (Association for Contextual Behavioral Science)
APBS (Association for Positive Behavior Support)
APBA (Association for Professional Behavior Analysts)
ASAT (Association for Science in Autism Treatment)
Behavior Analyst Certification Board ®
Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies
Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
Council of Autism Service Providers
- Overview and Summary of Scientific Support for Applied Behavior Analysis
- Reinforcer Assessment for Individuals with Severe Disability
- Paired Stimulus Preference Assessment
- Multiple Stimulus Without Replacement Preference Assessment
- Single Stimulus Preference Assessment
International Society for Performance Improvement
National Autism Center’s National Standards Project
PartnerShip Behavior Analytic Research Citations
Society for the Quantitative Analyses of Behavior
Western Michigan University Autism Center of Excellence Training Videos
DBHDS behavior analysts provide features on various aspects of behavior analysis (e.g. reinforcement) via the ABA Snippets section of the Office of Integrated Health’s monthly newsletter and archives. Please explore the newsletter and OIH website for additional information, such as safety alerts, educational resources, and health support network updates.
- January 2026: Start ACTing Now to Create Resolutions That Last
- December 2025: Behavioral Gerontology
- November 2025: Working with Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Disorders
- October 2025: Turning the Terror of Corrective Feedback Into a Treat
- September 2025: Back to School: Behavioral Terms 102
- August 2025: Back to School: Behavioral Terms 101
- July 2025: Empowering Individuals through Behavioral Science
- June 2025: Above and Beyond
- May 2025: National Smile Day
- April 2025: What’s in your toolbox?
- March 2025: Luck, Superstitions, and the Behavior Science Behind St. Patrick’s Day Traditions
- February 2025: Instilling a Positive Working Relationship
- January 2025: New Year’s Resolution Tips
- December 2024: You Have the Right To…
- November 2024: The Bountiful Benefits of Reinforcement
- October 2024: The Spooky Side Effects of Punishment
- September 2024: Shaping Up Your Health, Part 2
- August 2024: Shaping Up Your Health, Part 1
- July 2024: I Scream, You Scream
- June 2024: Cultural Responsiveness
- May 2024: Mental Health and Behavior Science
- April 2024: Differential Reinforcement
- March 2024: The Development of a Behavior Plan Quality Assurance Instrument in a Publicly Funded System of Care
- February 2024: Let them see you wash those hands!
- January 2024: Improving caregiver hand hygiene
At this time, we are pleased to announce a training series on Navigating Therapeutic Behavioral Consultation for New Providers. These trainings review key information for providers (i.e. enrollment, using WaMS, getting started with the service, and understanding quality assurance and human rights expectations).
Treatment of Challenging Behavior for Adults with DD: A Review of Literature
Beyond “Good Job”: Leveraging Principles of Behavior for Effective Feedback
Skill-Based Treatment Slide deck available here.
Introduction to the Practical Functional Assessment Slide deck for the training is available here.
BSPARI Review Updates, September 2024 . The Q&A from this webinar is available here.
Quality Reviews in Therapeutic Behavioral Consultation, November 2023
Introduction to Functional Behavior Assessment
Advanced Functional Behavior Assessment
Advanced Behavior Support Planning .
Graphical Displays and Analysis: Plotting without Deception Part 1
Graphical Displays and Analysis: Plotting without Deception Part 2
Our team has experience in behavioral science across adult and child populations in a wide range of settings and applications. We welcome your questions, suggestions, and feedback.
Nathan Habel, Director of Behavioral Services and Projects: nathan.habel@dbhds.virginia.gov
Courtney Pernick, Behavior Analyst: courtney.pernick@dbhds.virginia.gov
Brian Phelps, Behavior Analyst: brian.phelps@dbhds.virginia.gov
John Tolson, Behavior Analyst: john.tolson@dbhds.virginia.gov
Nick Vanderburg, Behavior Analyst: nick.vanderburg@dbhds.virginia.gov
If you have feedback for us on any of our training videos, please complete this form.
