When staff at school, a clinic, or a day program and caregivers at home respond to behavior the same way, the person learns faster and challenging behaviors decrease or stay low. That shared approach was the focus of our latest Safety-Care Live webinar, Bridging the Gap: 10 Strategies to Support Caregivers at Home presented by QBS Master Trainer and BCBA, Cassie Herman.
Home brings its own challenges: siblings, pets, after-school activities, cooking, chores, and bedtime routines. Giving families more prevention tools can reduce challenging behavior while freeing up time for learning, connection, and the activities everyone enjoys. Here is a recap of ten strategies professionals can share with caregivers to increase consistency in responding across settings and people.
It is easy to overlook what might be going on for a person behind a behavior. Age, medical and physical conditions, diagnoses, and individual strengths and limitations all play a role.
Cassie encouraged professionals to help caregivers step back and ask questions like these:
Shared language is one of the most important parts of bridging services and home. Teaching caregivers the ABCs of behavior (antecedent, behavior, consequence) helps everyone see which behaviors are being reinforced and which ones we actually want to reinforce.
Focus on desirable behaviors. Saying "no" or "stop" does not tell a person what to do instead. Descriptive praise and other reinforcers for desirable behaviors are far more effective, and they can be delivered quickly and often throughout the day.
Grow the reinforcer list together. Identifying reinforcers can be hard, so keep an open dialogue about what works in both settings. Cassie's favorite example: if a person loves a certain song, what about it do they love? The rhythm, the tempo, the limited lyrics? Those answers can point to other songs to add to the list.
Look at the whole pattern, without blame. If a behavior continues, something is reinforcing it. A caregiver who gets frustrated and raises their voice may unintentionally be giving the attention the person is seeking. The ABC model lets families spot these patterns without judgment. As Cassie put it, we are all human and will make mistakes. Once a pattern is identified, the team debriefs and builds a better prevention strategy for both settings.
A safe environment is the foundation of any prevention plan. At home, multiple family members often share the same space, so big changes may not be realistic. Help caregivers look for small adjustments that make a big impact, think about how family members can help each other maintain the space, and consider areas beyond the main living space, such as a playroom or the garage.
Teach safety habits
Cassie noted that caregivers hear plenty about how to respond to behavior, but rarely about how to keep themselves safe while they help. She highlighted four habits to teach:
Helping caregivers recognize patterns makes communication with staff more productive and leads to better prevention plans. Talk openly about the triggers each of you sees. Where there is crossover between settings, build a plan for both, keeping in mind that a response that works at school or in the clinic may not work at home.
Caregivers are often the first to notice early signals. The earlier a signal is caught, the faster a caregiver can respond, which can reduce the need to move siblings or pets out of the area.
In a crisis, people tend to talk impulsively or over each other. Teaching families to respond to triggers and signals the same way staff do increases safety and helps avoid accidentally reinforcing dangerous behavior. Cassie walked through Safety-Care's three de-escalation strategies:
After an incident, returning to the normal routine is usually best. The person may not be fully back to baseline, though. They may still look upset, be red in the face, respond slowly, or complain. The risk of re-escalation is higher during this time and can come on fast.
During recovery, caregivers should keep using safety habits, reinforce the desirable behaviors they see right now, stick to safe materials (this is not the moment to practice cutting with a knife), and increase demands gradually. Recovery looks different for everyone; some periods are short, others longer.
Talking through strategies is step one; putting them into practice at home is step two. Without a clear plan, that second step is hard. A home safety plan pulls together the safety habits and de-escalation strategies above and adds a few key pieces:
Emergency contacts. Who can family members, including siblings, call for help: a neighbor, grandparent, or professional? Post the list where anyone can find it (the fridge, the bathroom, a safe room) and add numbers to speed dial.
A plan for visitors. It can be tempting to keep things private and hope for the best, but visitors who know what to expect are less likely to unintentionally make things worse. Families can text visitors a short note ahead of time explaining what might happen and what to do, such as leaving the room quietly if asked. A copy posted near the front door covers unannounced guests.
Cassie emphasized that professionals should build the plan with families, not for them. When caregivers help create it, they are far more likely to use it.
Once a family leaves the house, there are fewer options and less control, so trips need to be planned in advance. Before anyone gets in the vehicle, caregivers can work through questions like:
During the trip, plan for reinforcement (such as tokens or a contract for a successful outing), quick responses to triggers and signals, and a safe way to end the trip early. After the trip, reflect on what could make the next one safer and reinforce successful outings so they keep happening.
Community members and neighbors may respond in unhelpful or even unsafe ways if they do not understand what is happening. Cassie suggested an "About My Family Member" card that explains the person's needs, what others might see, how they can help (often by stepping away), and a number to call. Building relationships with trusted neighbors also gives families nearby support.
First responders may occasionally be needed. Families can consider meeting with local police or hospital staff in advance and asking whether their residence can be flagged in dispatch systems. Sharing information ahead of time, including communication needs, medical concerns, pets, and what kind of help the family may request, gives responders the best chance to arrive prepared and respond calmly.
Debriefing is how prevention plans get better. It shows what is working, what is not, and where more support or training is needed. It also helps families stay resilient and builds trust between home and service providers.
Everything Cassie covered is part of the Safety-Care for Families curriculum. Safety-Care for Families gives staff and caregivers the same language, which strengthens communication between settings and leads to better prevention strategies. It equips caregivers with skills to keep themselves, siblings, pets, and others safe, and it supports consistent care wherever the person is supported.
Missed the live session? Watch the on-demand recording here.