The Struggles of Behavioral Interventionists (e.g., RBT®)

[@TheDailyBA]

Text Me: [phone] - I'm expanding my address book to include everyone passionate about Behavior Analysis. Have a question? Need a resource? Need advice? This is how you and I can chat! Text [phone] or click here to start the process thedailyba.superphone.io/

[@jlov_era]

Is this still available? New to the field, 1st job, going to school for social work.

[@JayCubEdVentures]

This is wild lmao I’ve been tossing the idea to start making YT videos based on my new experience with becoming a behavioral technician. You hit the nail on the coffin with this video!

[@TheDailyBA]

And it was made years ago lol; shows how well industry is solving the issue ;)

[@semperdecorus37]

Thank you!!!

[@TheDailyBA]

You're welcome!

[@judyburke7745]

This is so true! 40 hours of on-line video training and off you go... WHaaT?!?

[@TheDailyBA]

"Minimum competency" right?

[@jocegodfrey6283]

I am so sorry that you have gone through this. I know this is been so long ago that this was posted. I have been in a situation loosely similar to this. I ended up leaving the company. I still work with clients to earn my hours in preparation for the board exam. But I haven’t gotten paid for it for more than a year. It makes me angry some days and other days I feel fortunate that I can still serve people

[@TheDailyBA]

That’s nuts. No pay? How?

[@valbomar2138]

I am an RBT for a school district. Most of my training has come from my district above and beyond the the 40 hours. I have also been put in the role of training teachers and paraprofessionals in the basics of behavior so that everyone is on the same page. I would have to agree that an RBT is only as good as their passion for the field and the organization that employs them to train properly. If the requirements for training RBTs increases I would have to say we’re going to have to re-look at how much we are paid as well.

[@TheDailyBA]

What's an ideal rate? Curious to hear your thoughts.

[@mrsanonymous414]

Unfortunately, until they require more training, no matter how demanding the job, they won’t get paid more.

[@champagnefranklin5515]

Yes not enough I didn’t learn much I need to be in the field that’s how I learned everything I know now but I had to be so consistent with making supervisors teach me just the basics.

[@sherrelhill4332]

I totally agree that you can only be as good as those around you! As the young professionals in our field become leaders, we must hold the bar high for ourselves and those we serve. Fortunately, I work for an organization that adheres to a rigorous and encompassing training as well as an awesome company culture that supports its staff on all levels. With that said, we face challenges. One challenge we face that I’d love to hear your thoughts on is getting interventionists or RBTs to think more analytically during their sessions. This skill develops more in people who naturally seek to know more or enroll in coursework or higher education, but what about those who don’t? Looking forward to the rest of this series!

[@TheDailyBA]

That's great that you all have a culture like that! I wish that were everywhere! My hunch is that it can be fostered with a clear set of expectations of the job role, hiring with that culture in mind, and through some iteration. But I haven't been in a spot to really walk that out for more than 1.5 months myself. It's super tricky... I know I didn't add much - I think this is an area for some pioneering tbh! :)

[@sherrelhill4332]

Thanks! This is an area our organization has evolved in over the years, but there is always room for improvement, and through new RBT hires-people who have been certified by other BCBAs in the field but lack the skills and experience to be certified-is how I experience a lack of training in this field. When training new staff, I do not assume they have the knowledge outlined in the RBT task list because they are certified as an RBT. We also have added professional development efforts including a professional presentation at our all-hands staff meetings each month as well as one professional development each month in team meetings, which gets at the heart of team-specific issues. One of our newest BCBAs started a weekly informational newsletter, which has been well received. With all that said, I agree hiring the right people is an important first step.

[@TheDailyBA]

Sounds like some great practices to adopt! They can be so much work, but without them you can't look at the data and see how things are helping!!! Thanks for sharing Sherrel!!!!

[@DecemberJonathan]

Great video, thanks! Recent psych grad, looking at pediatric occupational therapy, and MS BCBA. I've worked in OT for the past year, and recently been interviewing for BT positions to to explore ABA. From my perspective, in Los Angeles, these companies are willing to pay $12.50-$15.00 per hours (and almost all are only part-time ). Even if I didn't have students loans, that is not even close to a livable wage in Los Angeles. So these companies hire 18 year old kids with a high school diploma or 12 college credits. No wonder these kiddos are getting the worst services. And what they pay for BCBA's is even more of an insult. On average, $42 per hour for an employee with an MS, Are you serious..

[@TheDailyBA]

There's a lot of struggles at the systems level. I think some people struggle from the funding mechanisms - a whole are for another video.

[@meenajones202]

I live in California and the city I live in pays their ABA/BCBA $120,000 per from the start because ABA/BCBA are GREATLY needed, however, nonexistent in my city.

[@kelseygeneral2037]

I am a parent of 2 asd boys and an interventionist if you want to ask questions about that angle. Us parents almost need to become as knowledgeable as professionals in order to make sure our kids are getting high quality intervention . There is such a wide range of training being provided to interventionists and bcbas. Without becoming trained myself I would of never known how to find professionals who received high quality training vs. People who experienced what you did when entering the field.

[@TheDailyBA]

Kelsey General definitely interested in this! Let’s chat. I’ll comment again how - running into a meeting and a training. :)

[@TheDailyBA]

Hey Kelsey - alright. I have a big heart for the parents, and would love to chat about your experience. I think at the heart of the early intervention model is effective practices, but it was only made known by the advocates, and families with loved ones diagnosed with ASD really helped put ABA on the map. That said, there's so much that goes into our field and so much that goes into an effective behavior analytic approach. I have an intention to someday work closely with parents on what they should expect from a well-trained behavior analyst. So this would help make me think about that again too - email me at [e-mail] some times that you could chat next Monday or during next weekend (the 17th and 18th)? :)

[@mrsanonymous414]

There are some parents that are uneducated, and it sucks to say I can see they are being cheated by the fact they aren’t even aware their child can have an RBT... *sigh*

[@melissafoster2651]

Thank you for shedding the light on a lot of these issues in the ABA industry.

[@TheDailyBA]

For sure. I really wanna flesh this out as a more thorough series someday.

[@TheDailyBA]

A new document came out from our governing credentialling system for anyone seeking this line of work in the field of behavior analysis: www.bacb.com/rbt/

[@lucasb.1654]

I had a behaviour interventionist job before the RBT credentials were a (well known) thing. It was mandatory to have several years working experience and a degree or diploma in social work, education or pedagogy before you'd be allowed to enroll in incompany aba courses and be assigned a mentor who would teach you how to work as a behaviour interventionist. When the RBT role and credetials became more common I went for my RBT training and exam... I couldn't believe how easy it was and am still appalled by the 'minimum competency'.

[@tarasines7031]

Your video definitely hits on a lot of chords. I think building the proper systems are key. As a supervisor pair learning objectives/experiences with phases of intervention. For example, teaching accurate data collection via IOA during the baseline data phase or how to analyze ABC data in order to determine how to plan an intervention approach. Treatment integrity data is my best friend and writing of descriptive protocols is necessary. I use the behavior skills training approach, review written descriptions, model, rehearse, and deliver feedback to interventionists. I use TI data to deliver objective feedback and designed a Supervision Form I fill out upon each meeting with an interventionist that includes topics discussed, training rendered, strengths displayed by the interventionist and areas to improve upon. We both sign the form, which creates a great platform for follow up.

[@TheDailyBA]

This sounds like a solid system!

[@AudioPervert1]

Late David Graeber explains with amazing clarity what bullshit jobs are in late capitalism. Behavioral Interventionists is right up there in the list of bullshit jobs. Like that of a marketing strategy robot.

[@violintrumpet7331]

The ABA company I work for pays RBTs minimum wage for non-billable time. What do you think of this???

[@TheDailyBA]

Sounds awesome. I worked minimum wage for everything as an entry level staff (pre-RBT). May be room for more than minimum with good rates and management oversight.

[@nataliesavage5677]

Wow lots of content here and lots of important stuff to consider too! I’m going to run through this episode with some of my supervisee’s 👍🏻💪🏻😁 I’ll get back to you with collective feedback 😁

[@TheDailyBA]

Love this idea of collective feedback. I will read every single one. So do be as thorough as you want/can be :)