I recently had a chance to talk with Diana Wolf and Nick Chappell about what makes their company, accredited by the Behavioral Health Centers of Excellence, attractive to those who have studied to be a BCBA. In a word, it is “support.” Support for BCBAs to focus on what they were trained to do – provide clinical services.
Clinical Coordinators
From the day you join Verbal Beginnings, you are taken under the wing of a Clinical Coordinator – a senior-level BCBA who walks you through policies and procedures, provides access to resources for program development, and is a source of mentorship and constructive feedback. The coordinator is there to make regular home visits to ensure parents are on board and happy with the treatment progression, and to provide additional feedback to the BCBA and tech on how to further reach treatment goals.
Clinical coordinators also develop various curricula that can be used to supplement treatment plans and parent training. Thus, BCBAs don’t have to start from scratch with each new program or training, but can draw upon and customize the material to their specific cases.
Field Coordinators
An additional level of support comes from Field Coordinators – senior level Registered Behavioral Technicians (RBTs) that oversee the administrative side of front-line techs. Field Coordinators work as a mentor to field-based RBTs, provide support with non-clinical concerns, promote RBT professional development, and provide oversight and administrative supervision. The Field Coordinator role also provides leadership opportunities for those pursuing the BCBA certification.
The BCBA Role
BCBAs at Verbal Beginnings enjoy the ability to focus all of their time on the clinical role that they have come to know and love. The ability to step into a home free of administrative concerns and focus entirely on the clinical responsibilities of being a BCBA has been a joy for the BCBAs at Verbal Beginnings. Verbal Beginnings will also work with you wherever you are located to keep your mile radius manageable and a caseload of 6-10 clients.
Other benefits include professional development opportunities through online and in-person Continuing Education events. Additionally, BCBAs have the opportunity to attend one local conference for free, participate in research opportunities and are highly encouraged to present research based on their work with the company. At Verbal Beginnings, you have a chance to give back to the ABA field.
Verbal Beginnings is currently hiring for BCBAs in and the Maryland, VA and D.C. area. If you are interested in learning more about opportunities at Verbal Beginnings, call us at 855.866.9893 or reach out to join@verbalbeginnings.com.
By Todd A. Ward, PhD, BCBA-D, President and Founder of bSci21Media, LLC