The CBS Approach
CBS specializes in providing intensive ABA services for children ages 18 months to 8 years old. We are passionate about being an organization known for supporting kids by creating naturalistic teaching opportunities first, building teams who know their clients well and who advocate for them as individuals.
Tiered Service Delivery
At CBS, we strive to ensure consistent quality of care through a tiered delivery model. This model includes:
- Clinical Supervisor | Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA): This is a master’s level certification in the field of behavior analysis. Those with the certification provide consultation, family training, case oversight, and supervision of all other staff members on a child’s team. They may work alongside a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA), a bachelor’s level certification, permitting the individual to assist a BCBA in their behavior analytic tasks.
- Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) III: The RBT III is a technician on the child’s team who also assists the Clinical Supervisor in oversight, administration, and team communication. This provides an additional layer of supervision for each child’s programming. The people holding this position are in the process of completing their coursework to sit for the BCBA exam.
- Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) II: The RBT II is a technician on each child’s team who also assists the Clinical Supervisors in observations, administration, and team communication. RBT IIs will frequently cover sessions if another team member is unavailable or assist in getting new clients settled while we build their teams. This too provides an additional layer of oversight for the child’s programming.
- Registered Behavior Technician (RBT): Each team consists of multiple RBTs, or “techs,” who are primarily responsible for the direct implementation of the ABA services. Each RBT receives 40 hours of training in ABA, which is supplemented by training on specific clients, CBS culture, and professionalism. RBTs receive ongoing supervision from BCaBAs and BCBAs.
What to Expect
How does the CBS Service Model work?
Phase 1: Contact Family Support & Community Engagement Specialist
Our families’ first point of contact will be with Beth Hodgin. It is great to know the services we offer, but even better to understand the person on the other end of the phone relates to what you’re going through regardless of where you are in the process. Having a son with autism helps give perspective on many life events and benchmark decisions. This paired with her expertise on what CBS can provide in the way of intensive ABA programming makes her a wonderful resource to families as they navigate finding the best fit provider for their child(ren). She can help to answer questions regarding ABA, parent perspectives and help decide if the CBS program is right for each family.
After talking with Beth, families can schedule a consultation to meet Beth and one of our BCBAs to discuss the CBS service package. This process is free of charge and is meant to help families decide if we are the right fit for their child.
Phase 2: Assessment
The assessment process helps our team get an initial idea of the child’s current levels of responding across multiple skill domains. Assessments typically take place on the CBS campus and include an evaluation with at least one BCBA and usually one or more RBTs present. The time is spent conducting interviews, testing skills, and observing interactions between the child and family members. A treatment plan is then created based on the individual needs of the child and family, recommendations will be shared, and we will confirm the team and family are unified in how to move forward with the program. At the end of this process the team works with your insurance to advocate for an individualized program plan with a recommended number of hours of ABA per week.
Phase 3: Family Training
We understand starting an intensive intervention can be big change of pace, so this is one of the many steps we take to ensure everyone has opportunities to learn about the program in detail. After the assessment, families participate in a training to learn about ABA and what this will look like for your child(ren). This is another opportunity for families to ask questions and participate in the discussion to ensure everyone feels informed before the first day of services.
This training will be used to introduce the structure of the program and discuss what things will look like for your child day to day. Your Clinical Supervisor will introduce programs and data collection methods so when therapy begins everyone is on the same page. We encourage families to invite anyone that is in the child’s life to participate in the family training. Teachers, caregivers, and grandparents alike are all invited.
A separate component of family training will include a meeting with Beth to introduce policies, points of contact and scheduling information. She also can answer questions and bring her perspective as a parent who has experienced many of life’s milestones in raising her son with autism.
Phase 4: One-to-One Sessions
Once the family training is complete and insurance has approved treatment, services can begin! Daily sessions will fit within the block schedule of 8am-12pm and 12pm-4pm. Each child will spend time with their team members, getting to know the space, and creating a routine. At CBS, team members receive individualized training with each child they serve so families can trust their child(ren) will be spending their days with people who foster a safe and supportive learning experience.