FUNCTIONAL-ANALYSIS AND TREATMENT OF ELOPEMENT

Elopement is a dangerous behavior because children who run away may en counter life-threatening situations (e.g., traffic). We conducted func tional analyses of the elopement of 3 children who had been diagnosed with developmental disabilities. The results identified a maintaining reinforcer for the elopement of 1 child, but the data were difficult t o interpret for 2 of the children. Subsequent reinforcer assessments w ere used to help to clarify the reinforcers for elopement for these 2 children. Results of the functional analyses and reinforcer assessment s then were used to develop successful treatments to reduce elopement. The findings are discussed in terms of (a) the application of functio nal analysis methodology to elopement, (b) the use of reinforcer asses sments to identify potential reinforcers when standard functional anal yses are undifferentiated, and (c) the utility of assessment-based tre atments for elopement.