Behavioral professionals who wish to become Board Certified Behavior Analysts or Associate Behavior Analysts have a variety of options for completing their experience requirements, under the Behavior Analyst Certification Board new eligibility requirements. My mentoring service fulfills the requirements of supervised independent fieldwork, under which professionals must obtain 1000-1500 hours of supervised behavior analytic work. Mentoring services can also be designed which meet the new requirements for supervision for BCABAs. Please see the BACBs description of the new experience and supervision requirements for further details.

Mentorship involves more than just providing consultation and direction on your existing programs. I focus on working with you to give you the problem-solving and analysis strategies you need to successfully develop your programs using an individual, broad-based behavioral analysis of each childs verbal behavior and motivation. We work together to develop your goals for the mentorship program and to develop a plan to ensure that you achieve those goals.

My distance-based services allow you to meet the BACB eligibility requirements regardless of where you live and work. My clients have included professionals from across the United States and Canada as well as consultants in the UK and Middle East. I draw on a solid background in teaching language to children with autism or other developmental disabilities, as well as my training and experience in coaching, consulting, teaching, and distance education.

Requirements

Mentorship is designed for working professionals who provide consultation to at least three families, and who are already familiar with using the ABLLS or VB-MAPP and the analysis of verbal behavior. Prior to beginning mentoring, mentoring clients must have completed or be in the process of completing all educational eligibility requirements for Board certification, and must have taken workshops on using the ABLLS or VB-MAPP and/or teaching using an analysis of verbal behavior approach.

Educational eligibility requirements include specific coursework in behavior analysis. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board has a list of approved undergraduate and graduate course sequences, including many that are available via online/distance education.

Activities and Costs

Mentoring goals often include refining the ability to assess language and learning skills using the VB-MAPP or ABLLS, learning to create IEPs, refining teaching skills, learning or refining the ability to train staff, and conducting functional analyses. Activities to reach these goals involve a combination of video reviews, assessment and program reviews, and phone or web-based video consultation.

The frequency and duration of mentoring services will depend on how many hours per week you are working. I will develop a plan for services with you that meets the requirements of the BACB (5%, or at least 75 hours of supervision for the 1500 total contact hours for BCBAs). The mentorship can last for a minimum of six months up to any length of time you wish. Many of my clients have chosen to continue with mentoring even after they have passed the exam.

I have a sliding fee scale dependent on your country of permanent residence, similar to the ABA membership scale. Please contact me for information on rates for individuals or agencies. I anticipate accepting new clients beginning in fall '08.

For more information, contact me.

My Mentors

A description of my mentoring program would not be complete without my many thanks to and acknowledgement of the professionals at Behavior Analysts, Inc. I consider myself fortunate to be able to include Dr. Mary Ann Powers, Dr. Jim Partington, and Dr. Mark Sundberg among my mentors. And my work with parents would not be as rich or as deep without all that I have learned from Cathy Santopadre. Thanks to all of you.