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| Service Delivery Issues in Community-Based Applications of Applied Behavior Analysis |
| Tuesday, June 1, 2010 |
| 10:30 AM–11:50 AM |
| Seguin (Grand Hyatt) |
| Area: CSE |
| Chair: Kimberly Crosland (University of South Florida) |
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| Implementation and Access of Applied Behavior Analysis Services in Managed Mental Health and Community-Based Care |
| Domain: Service Delivery |
| NORÁN DOLLARD (University of South Florida), Kimberly Crosland (University of South Florida), Robert Paulson (University of South Florida), Carol MacKinnon-Lewis (University of South Florida), Bryon R. Neff (University of South Florida) |
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| Abstract: This study was undertaken at the request of the Agency for Healthcare Administration to better understand the use of behavior analysis services by Community-Based Care lead agencies (CBC’s) in Florida. The study used stakeholder interviews with CBC and mental health provider administrators to obtain a statewide view of the use of behavior analytic services. To better understand workforce issues related to applied behavior analysis, interviews were also conducted with dedicated programs that lead to certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. These interviews were augmented by an on-line survey of program directors with programs that include behavior analysis and which may lead to certification. The specific aims of the study were to identify facilitators and barriers to implementation that exist in integrating behavior analysis services within Managed Care, Mental Health and Community Based Care services and to understand accessibility of behavior analysis services by public sector organizations. Results of the study will be presented which showed that a variety of barriers and limitations exist to providing ABA services such as inadequate reimbursement rates, a limited pool of Certified Behavior Analysts, a relative lack of familiarity with behavior analysis, and theoretical differences. |
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| Promoting Community Health in Poor and Rural Communities |
| Domain: Applied Behavior Analysis |
| ANDREE FLEMING-HOLLAND (Universidad Veracruzana) |
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| Abstract: Mexico, a developing country, has also suffered from the world-wide recession. As in other nations, the result has been an ever-widening chasm between the haves and have-nots. With the help of senior psychology students at the University of Veracruz, two programs were implemented in two different communities to offset diagnosed health problems. First, students worked under teacher supervision with two groups of adult diabetics also diagnosed with high blood pressure. In weekly meetings over a four-month period, they instructed the group on diet, exercise and mood control. At the end of four months, evaluations showed a drop in blood sugar as well as blood pressure in the majority of group members. A second group of supervised students worked in a rural middle school where there had been a number of suicides previously. Weekly meetings were directed at learning effective communication strategies with parents and peers, mood control and goal-setting. Results after four months showed more emotional stability, results which held up in follow-up contacts. Programs such as these are good experiences for students and advantageous for populations with little or no access to mental health clinics, and could be included in undergraduate or graduate curriculums in other countries as well. |
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| Why Behavior Analysts Are at Risk for Getting Sued: A Case for Better Ethical Training |
| Domain: Service Delivery |
| TAMARA L. PAWICH-PERRY (Eastern Michigan University), James T. Todd (Eastern Michigan University), Flora Hoodin (Eastern Michigan University) |
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| Abstract: Applied behavior analysis has a strong foundation in providing services within natural settings for a variety of problem behaviors and client populations. Delivering such services in the natural environment promotes maintenance and generalization of meaningful change, yet ethical dilemmas often emerge when sessions are held outside of an office setting. While behavior analysts are expected to uphold a high standard of ethics to protect the best interest of all consumers, little focus of training is on how to manage difficult ethical situations and resolve ethical principles when they conflict. Although Bailey and Burch (2005) wrote a much-needed resource that should be a required reading for all graduate programs in behavior analysis, this book should serve only as a catalyst for more advanced graduate training in ethical and professional behavior. Practicing in an ethical manner increasingly has become a legal issue for clinicians who provide services in the community as these individuals are at higher risk for being sued for malpractice. Given these reasons, more training is needed to address the current gaps in our education. Recommendations will provided about: identifying APA and BACB ethical principles that are particularly relevant for community work, using systematic decision-making strategies, and improving graduate training. |
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| Examining the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Two Delivery Models to Teach Children Abduction Prevention Skills |
| Domain: Applied Behavior Analysis |
| KIMBERLY E. BANCROFT (Western Michigan University), R. Wayne Fuqua (Western Michigan University) |
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| Abstract: Over 58,000 children are the victims of nonfamily abductions in the United States annually and many suffer from acute and chronic psychological and behavioral disorders following the assault (Boney-McCoy & Finkelhor, 1996; Sedlak, Finkelhor, Hammer & Schultz, 2002). Traditional education programs to teach children abduction prevention skills are limited in many ways, including a lack of empirical investigation to support their effectiveness, great variability in program content and presentation, and developmentally inappropriate teaching approach for young children (Bromberg & Johnson, 1997). Behavioral Skills Training (BST) has been found to be a highly effective strategy to teach children abduction prevention skills. This training model, however, is constricted by financial, human and time costs associated with it. These limitations may be restricting the widespread adoption of this effective teaching model. This current investigation seeks to examine the use of a computer-simulated BST delivery model to teach young children abduction prevention skills and to compare its effectiveness and efficiency against the gold-standard of live BST training. Pilot data found that the computer program was as effective in teaching children the target safety skills and learners’ safety behaviors generalized to community settings and maintained over a 1-month period. Additional data shall be collected. |
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