Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate Program. Practicum Search Handbook

Transcription

1 Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate Program Practicum Search Handbook April 20, 2011

2 Practicum Checklist Getting a practicum Complete Permission to Contact Practicum Sites form Make appointment with advisor and bring Permission to Contact form Submit signed Permission to Contact form to Shelley Viles Read Practicum packet Contact your State Police or County Sheriff s office about getting a background check. In New Hampshire, go to the State Police website for the appropriate forms and procedures: If you are working in a school: o Applicant must complete proper form (included in your practicum packet), have the form notarized, obtain a fingerprint card and then return these to the employing School Advisory Unit, school district, or charter school. o Allow up to six weeks for processing inked fingerprint cards for a record check through the FBI. o The fees are $44.25 (livescan) or $55.25 (inked) for employees and $25.25 (livescan or inked) for volunteers. Search available practicum sites in Applied Psych. Office and search BACB

3 website for additional options: - Go to - In the left-hand menu, click on Find a Certificant - Search by city, zip code, or state Prepare resume & cover letters Send applications to sites and include Requirements for Practica document Interview with sites Setting up the practicum Complete Practicum Approval form & submit to Shelley Viles Prepare Practicum Contract & submit to Pro. Sem. Leader Bring signed BACB Fieldwork and Practicum Experience Supervision forms to monthly Pro. Sem. Meetings Finishing the practicum Complete top portion of Verification Sheet & submit to Pro. Sem. Leader Be sure Field Supervisor completes Field Supervisor Evaluation and submits to Pro. Sem. Leader Complete Student Practicum Evaluation form & submit to Pro. Sem. Leader

4 Permission to Contact Practicum Sites Before contacting any practicum site students need to read the following: 1. ABA Practicum Search Handbook 2. Behavior Analyst Certification Board Guidelines for Responsible Conduct Professional Disciplinary & Ethical Standards (Available at: In addition, students need to have joined a professional association, either APBA or ABAI, before contacting practicum sites. Please check one: APBA ABAI I,, attest that I have read and understand the required documents and have joined a professional association as checked above. I agree to follow the BACB Guidelines for Responsible Conduct & Ethical Standards and will comport myself in an ethical and professional manner in all of my roles as a student, including the practicum and internship site, and in all my relationships with faculty, supervisors and peers. Furthermore, I understand that I must receive an evaluation of Good or better in all first semester courses in order to be eligible for a Practicum. Students who receive any satisfactory with concerns in either course will be allowed to start the Practicum search at the discretion of the Program Director. Signed: Date: The last step before contacting a Practicum site is to have a face-to-face meeting with your Practicum advisor for the purpose of preparing yourself for making contacts with sites for the purpose of requesting an interview. You need to know the protocol for approaching sites as well as understand which sites are appropriate for you to contact. Student name Date of the practicum / internship advising meeting: Signature of Practicum / Internship Advisor:

5 Antioch University New England Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate Program Practica Site Guidelines Requirements for Practica through Antioch 1. Duration Generally over the academic year, from September September, with flexibility to extend the practicum due to individual circumstances. 2. Time ABA Certificate Program (ABA) students commit 1000 hours for the duration of the practicum. Students must complete a minimum of 300 hours per semester. 3. Nature The student's primary focus should be on learning new behavior analytic skills related to the BACB Third Edition Task List. Activities must adhere to the dimensions of applied behavior analysis identified by Baer, Wolf, and Risley (1968) in the article Some Current Dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. Appropriate experience activities include: 1. Conducting assessment activities related to the need for behavioral interventions, 2. Designing, implementing, and monitoring behavior analysis programs for clients, 3. Overseeing the implementation of behavior analysis programs by others, 4. Other activities normally performed by a behavior analyst that are directly related to behavior analysis such as attending planning meetings regarding the behavior analysis program, researching the literature related to the program, talking to individuals about the program; plus any additional activities related to oversight of behavioral programming such as behavior analyst supervision issues, or evaluation of behavior analysts' performance. The supervisor will determine if activities qualify. Examples of activities that are not appropriate as experience activities include: attending meetings with little or no behavior analytic content, providing interventions that are not based in behavior analysis, doing non-behavior analytic administrative activities, or any other activities that are not directly related to behavior analysis.

6 4. Supervision There is a minimum requirement of one hour per week of individual supervision, and an additional hour of either individual or small group (5 students or less) supervision. The supervisor must observe the student engaging in behavior analytic activities in the natural environment at least once every two weeks. During the initial half of the total experience hours, observation should concentrate on student-client interactions. This observation may be conducted via web-cameras, videotape, video conferencing, or similar means in lieu of the supervisor being physically present. The site supervisor must be a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, with a minimum of two years of post-bcba clinical experience. It is the student s responsibility to be aware of certification requirements and, where applicable, state licensure requirements. Students are expected to participate in other learning opportunities such as case conferences and staff meetings. The supervisor will write an evaluation of the student at the end of each semester. The program will provide forms for the supervisor evaluations. 5. Visual Taping Students are expected to bring taped samples of their work to their Professional Seminar leader with permissions for release signed by clients. Four live work samples are required for each semester of Professional Seminar. 6. Practicum Contract The contract lists the specifics of the training experience. It includes the days of the week to be worked, the activities that the student will be engaged in, the name and credentials of the supervisor, and the specific learning goals to be pursued during the placement. The contract is finalized by the end of the first month at the site and signed by the student, supervisor, and professional seminar leader. It is the student s responsibility to write the contract and see that all parties receive a copy. University, Field Site, and Student Responsibilities University Responsibilities 1. Provide professional liability for all faculty and students for work performed in the practicum. 2. Require that students and faculty understand and adhere to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board Guidelines for Responsible Conduct. 3. Confer an adjunct faculty appointment to the field supervisor upon application to the Department Chair of the Applied Psychology Department. Program Director (or Designee) Responsibilities 1. Planning and implementation of policy and procedures. 2. Construction and maintenance of practicum documents and files.

7 3. Advising and consulting with students, faculty and site personnel. 4. Site visiting: Visit all new sites. 5. Provide to the field site: the learning objectives for the practicum, practicum guidelines, and forms for the supervisor to evaluate the student. 6. Supervise the Professional Seminar faculty. 7. Review and sign practicum contracts and semester evaluations. 8. Intervene in student/site problems when needed. Professional Seminar Leader Responsibilities 1. Prepare course syllabus, teach course content, and evaluate students work at the end of each semester. 2. Review and sign practicum contracts. 3. Serve as liaison between program and practicum site. 4. Review and sign BACB Fieldwork and Practicum Experience Supervision Forms. 5. Collect field supervisor evaluations from students and submit to Program Director. 6. Review and add comments to the Practicum Evaluation Form completed by the student. Field Site Responsibilities 1. Provide an orientation for the student to the facility, policies, and procedures; and help the student join the staff. 2. Assign appropriately selected clients with whom the student will engage in behavior analytic activities. 3. Appoint an appropriate staff person with the appropriate professional certification who will meet with the student for one hour per week of individual supervision, plus an additional hour per week of either individual or group supervision. 4. Arrange for the student to attend various meetings for appropriate learning experiences. 5. Provide adequate facilities and supplies for students. Student Responsibilities 1. Read the Practicum site Guidelines. 2. Read the Behavior Analytic Certification Board Guidelines for Responsible Conduct. 3. Make an appointment with the Program Director for an orientation to the process of finding a site. 4. Sign the Permission to Search for Practicum Site Form when you meet with the Program Director; this verifies that you have the practicum site guidelines and the Behavior Analytic Certification Board Guidelines for Responsible Conduct. 5. Utilize the resources available and network with other Antioch students to identify specific sites of interest. Policies

8 Professional Liability Coverage All students and faculty are covered by a professional liability policy for work performed in their roles as providers and supervisors for the practicum. The blanket coverage is for 1 million per act and 3 million aggregate. Using a Job as Supervised Independent Fieldwork Students may use their employment to meet the experience requirements of supervised independent fieldwork as long as their employment meets the guidelines for approved fieldwork as outlined by BACB. Students doing a Supervised Independent Fieldwork do so on their own and are responsible for maintaining their own records and knowledge of BACB requirements. Antioch University New England maintains no responsibility for any aspect of Supervised Independent Fieldwork.

9 Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate Program SAMPLE PRACTICUM CONTRACT FIELD SITE NAME: PROGRAM/UNIT: ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: SUPERVISOR S NAME, DEGREE & TITLE: PRACTICUM STUDENT S NAME: ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: PRO SEM LEADER: SUPERVISOR S This is an agreement between Antioch University New England and Field Site regarding the placement of, enrolled in the ABA Certificate program. Practicum Student s Name (1). I,, will be a practicum student at from (specify starting and ending dates): for a minimum of 1,000 hours. As a practicum student I will be free to attend classes at Antioch on of each week. I will take the following vacations (dates): (2). As an intern, I will engage in the following activities: a. Conducting assessment activities related to the need for behavioral interventions: b. Designing, implementing, and monitoring behavior analysis programs for clients: c. Overseeing the implementation of behavior analysis programs by others: d. other activities normally performed by a bahavior analyst thar are directly related to behavior analysis: (3). Audio/Visual Taping: Four live work samples are required each semester of the practicum. (4). Supervision: There is a minimum requirement of one hour per week of individual supervision, and an

10 additional hour of either individual or small group (5 students or less) supervision. The supervisor must observe the student engaging in behavior analytic activities in the natural environment at least once every two weeks. During the initial half of the total experience hours, observation should concentrate on student-client interactions. This observation may be conducted via web-cameras, videotape, video conferencing, or similar means in lieu of the supervisor being physically present. The site supervisor must be a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, with a minimum of two years of post- BCBA clinical experience. It is the student s responsibility to be aware of certification requirements and, where applicable, state licensure requirements. Students are expected to participate in other learning opportunities such as case conferences and staff meetings. Supervision will be received from the following Field Supervisors: (a). Primary Supervisor s name, certification, and number of hours of supervision each week: (b). Supplementary Supervisor s name, certification and hours, if applicable: (c). The primary supervisor will write a mid-year and end-of-the year evaluation of the practicum student s work. If there is a secondary supervisor, their input will be solicited by the primary supervisor and included as part of the evaluation. Antioch will provide the forms at the appropriate times. (5). During the practicum, the practicum student will participate in Professional Seminar at Antioch. The Professional Seminar leader will be responsible for monitoring the progress of the practicum experience and conducting a Traineeship Meeting with the supervisor and practicum student. This is a face-toface meeting with purpose of reviewing the progress of the practicum to set new goals if warranted and to address any issue identified by the student, supervisor or Professional Seminar leader. The ABA Certification Program sets aside a day (to be announced) at Antioch to have the traineeship meetings as well as to provide a program of professional training with CEU credits for supervisors. (6). The Practicum site will provide a clinical instruction environment that is conducive to the training of behavior analyst practicum students. This includes the following: a. space for individual and/or small group work that allows for privacy, comfort and opportunity for the appropriate use of equipment such as audio/visual taping; b. procedures that ensure that client rights and confidentiality are protected; c. oversight of the practicum student s work at the site and regular consultation with the student s Professional Seminar Leader. (7). It is understood that the practicum student will not be compensated for his/her work except for when a possible stipend or travel money might be available.

11 (8). The practicum student is covered by a professional liability policy provided by Antioch University New England. Coverage under this policy is one (1) million dollars per claim and three (3) million aggregate. (9). The learning goals for the Practicum are listed below or attached on a separate sheet. Make a list here of what you want to learn at your placement. It is important to review the competencies that you will receive in your professional seminar and to use them as reference points in listing your goals. Also, your goals need to be related to the work you will do at your site. Keep your goals as specific as possible and include both personal and professional goals. These should be discussed with your Professional Seminar Leader before making them final. Practicum Student: Date: Supervisor: Date: Professional Seminar Leader: Date: Director of Practicum: Date: **Please make four copies and have your supervisor sign all copies as well as yourself. Submit them to your Professional Seminar Leader, who will sign them and forward them to the practicum office. They will be returned via your Professional Seminar Leader.