Newsletter
Volume 31 | 2008 | Number 2
Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis (PIBA)
By Dr. Joseph Cautilli
As behavior analysis becomes increasingly professionalized, it has developed difficulties unique to the practice of behavior analysis in the school system, mental health system, and developmental disabilities system. This SIG is dedicated to the establishment of behavior analysis as a unique clinical practice. We support Federal, local, and state initiatives including but not limited to the licensing of behavior analysis. All behavior analysts involved in clinical practice, organizational behavior management, or social services are welcome to join the SIG.
After the formal acceptance of the PIBA SIG by the ABAI Executive Council, we held an open survey to determine our issues for the upcoming year. We requested use of the Behavior Analyst Online SIG’s policy list serve to generate a place for voting and serve as the primary means for the PIBA SIG to discuss issues regarding insurance regulations, licensing, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regulation changes, national provider identification numbers, and a host of other topics.
Over a two-week period ending December 6, 2007 we advertised on various relevant list serves for prospective members to join us on the policy list serve to vote on critical items for the SIG. At this time, the list has over 125 members (our starting membership for the SIG) and 113 members eligible to vote. Over 25% of the new membership voted for one or more topics covering governing board structure and content, bylaws development, dues structure and pricing, licensing of behavior analysts, faculty and graduate program development, third-party insurance coverage for behavior analytic services, basic and applied research links, and pamphlet development, among other items.
The items supported by a majority of respondents will receive immediate attention and form the core of the Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG’s ambitious agenda. We welcome all behavior analysts, both basic and applied, to join us in addressing important issues.