Functional assessment, collaboration, and
evidence-based treatment: Analysis of a team
approach for addressing challenging behaviors
in young children
Abstract
This study examined the effects of functional assessment and positive behavior support on
classroom behaviors of young children. An experimental program, entitled FACET, was
implemented by school-based teams in pre-kindergarten through first-grade classrooms. Observations
of child behaviors and classroom variables were compared between experimental and control
classrooms. Results indicate that children in FACET classrooms made significant gains from baseline
to post-intervention and exhibited a higher occurrence of positive behaviors and fewer negative
behaviors compared to control children. Behavior gains were positively correlated with the level of
treatment fidelity. These findings support the effectiveness of an intervention that incorporates
functional assessment, collaboration, and evidence-based treatment with young children who exhibit
challenging behaviors.