Marisa H. Fisher, PhD Joshua Plavnick, PhD

Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, & Special Education

9/17/15

Applied Behavior Analysis at MSU: Project to Enhance and Expand Programming

Practicum & TrainingEarly Learning Institute

Partnership between College of Education and College of Social SciencesHoused at the Child Development LabCurrently has 6 preschool aged children with ASD enrolled 8 behavior technicians hired and trained

1 week training bootcamp

Full day therapeutic services Training site for ABA practicum and other studentsAlso supports a research agenda

Funding SourcesCurrent funding from donor support, University, CSS/COE, and MDHHS grant; Sustain with insurance revenue, grants, additional donor support

ABA Training: Needs & Barriers AnalysisSurvey to assess consumer interest in and barriers to ABA graduate training (to become BCBA)

Survey closed in July with 351 respondents from MIInterest in ABA

High level of general interest in ABA (4.05 on 5-pt scale)Interest in “becoming a BCBA” slightly lower (3.46)Behavioral technicians more interested in ABA and becoming a BCBA than other professionsMost interest was in an ABA certificate program (currently offered) or Masters program (in preparation)Some interest in ABA Hybrid PhD Program, with 18 indicating immediate interest and 46 within 1-3 years

Personnel to Build ABA Capacity at MSU

2 fixed term BCBA-D facultyDr. Gabrielle Lee from Columbia University

Teaching 1 course for the online ABA programConducting research about effective online instruction

Dr. Kate LaLonde from WMUClinical Director of Early Learning Institute

Administers assessments of children for Early Learning Institute (ELI)Oversees training and clinical services

Outreach Specialist as ABA Program ManagerKaty Colaluca

Manages the graduate certificate ABA program and serves as outreach specialist at ELI

Increase ABA StudentsProgress toward doubling ABA enrollment with high quality applicants (50% in 2015 and 50% in 2016)

Enrollment to date:Fall 2013: 19Fall 2014: 20Spring 2015

10 scholarship students to complete courseworkAll students in their last semester– in good standingMean number of supervision hours completed: 780 out of 1500

At least 3 will be ready to take the exam in December 2015Fall 2015: 16

Total in 2015 = 26Projected for 2016 = 40

University PanelConvene a University-wide panel to align MSUs efforts in ASD with Michigan’s Autism Plan

Status: MDHHS grant workgroup meeting monthly to discuss the grant objectives within the State Plan frameworkMeeting with larger RAIND group quarterly to incorporate other initiatives at MSU

Next Steps for 2015Ensure the ELI is a very high quality program that serves diverse familiesSubmit survey reports to MDHHS, University, and Behavior Analysis Certification BoardSustain high quality applicants for ABA program; continue refining coursework and fieldwork experiencesDocument alignment of initiatives at MSU and Michigan’s Autism Plan for RAIND members