Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 3 | 2011 | Number 2 | Online ISSN: 2151-4704
Kansas ABA
By Edward K. Morris
The mission of the Kansas Association for Behavior Analysis (KansABA) is to provide a forum for (a) disseminating information about the science and practice of behavior analysis, and education and training therein; (b) addressing issues relevant to the science and practice of behavior analysis; (c) maintaining disciplinary, professional, and ethical standards; and (d) recruiting and enhancing interest in behavior analysis throughout the State of Kansas and in the Kansas City metropolitan area (i.e., Clay, Jackson, and Platte Counties in Missouri).
Governance
KansABA is governed by an Executive Council that consists of a president (Ed Morris), a full member representative (Linda Heitzman-Powell), an affiliate representative (Jessica Royer), and a student representative (Brooke Jones). The Council is assisted by a secretary (Brooke Jones, again) and a treasurer ( Linda Heitzman-Powell, again). In addition, KansABA has a Legislative Affairs Committee (Nan Perrin, chair), a Membership Committee (Jill Koertner, chair), a Website Committee (Adam Brewer, chair), and a BACB Certification Committee (Claudia Dozier, chair).
Membership
KansABA has membership categories for full members-members who meet the requirements for full membership in ABAI ($35 membership fee), student members-students who meet the requirements for student membership in ABAI ($15), affiliate members-citizens of the state of Kansas and Kansas City metropolitan area who express an interest in behavior analysis in Kansas ($25), and adjunct members-citizens in other states and countries who also express an interest in behavior analysis in Kansas ($15).
Conference
Our main activity this past year was an April 23 conference titled, "From Research to Practice: Evidence-Based Strategies in Education." BACB continuing education units (CEUs) were available, as were certificates of attendance. Unlike other affiliated chapters, KansABA has built a conference program around themes in research, training, and practice in Kansas and one relevant keynote speaker from outside the region. The theme of research-to-practice (and practice-to-research) informed the organization of our sessions, the presentations within them, and the content of some presentations. Kansas sites and speakers from this year's conference are listed below:
- The University of Kansas Life Span Institute, Juniper Gardens Children's Project: Jay Buzhardt, Charles Greenwood, Dale Walker, Rawni Anderson, and Waylon Howard, "A Web-Based Tool to Support Data-Based Intervention Decision-Making for Infant and Toddler Language Growth"; Howard Wills and Debra Kamps, "The Class-Wide Function-Related Intervention Team (CW-FIT) Program: A Tiered Approach to Classroom-Based Behavior Intervention"; and Charlie Greenwood and Judy Carta, "Developing Tier 3 Language and Literacy Interventions for Preschoolers Not Making Expected Rates of Progress"
- The Kansas School-Wide Positive Behavior Support Consortium: Rachel Freeman, "An Overview"; Dawn Miller and Jamie Wolfe, "PBS in the Shawnee Mission School District"; and April Earley, "PBS in the Gardner/Edgerton School District"
- The University of Kansas-Lawrence Center for Teaching Excellence: Daniel J. Bernstein, "How Behavior Analysis Contributes Answers to Higher Education's Pressing Challenges"
- The University of Kansas-Lawrence Department of Applied Behavioral Science: Derek Reed, "Behavioral Economics in the Classroom"; Florence DiGennaro Reed, "Evidence-Based Teacher Consultation: Promoting Student Outcomes"; and Jan B. Sheldon, Andrea Courtemanche, and Todd Merritt, "Reducing Truancy: Mentoring, Monitoring, Motivating"
This year's outside keynote speaker was Nancy Neef (The Ohio State University). Her presentation was titled, "Behavior Analysis Goes to College: Examining Educational Practices in Higher Education."
KansABA Website
If you type "KansABA" into Google's search engine, you will find that KansABA is the first listing, as well as the second and third, on through the seventh listing. If you wish to become a member, you may remit through PayPal at our site, which we will continue to update and expand.
Science and Education Activities
KansABA also advanced science and education in behavior analysis this year by cosponsoring and providing BACB CEUs for two University of Kansas Department of Applied Behavioral Science (ABS) colloquia. One was by Professor Stephen T. Higgins (University of Vermont) titled, "Using Monetary Incentives to Reduce Drug Use and Improve Health"; the other was by Edward K. Morris (University of Kansas) titled, "The Gernsbacher Lectures Redux: The Good, the Bad—and My Ugly."
Autism Insurance Legislation
Through the efforts of many Kansans and KansABA members—Linda Heitzman-Powell and Nan Perrin, in particular—the state of Kansas has mandated pilot legislation for autism treatment insurance. Linda and Nan are on the Governor's Committee on Autism. Linda described the situation this way:
The Kansas Senate recently voted on House Bill 2160, which mandates that insurance providers 'test-track' coverage for autism treatments to children. This means that a pilot project will be implemented in which employees enrolled in a state health plan will have coverage for autism assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Under this bill, insurers are required to provide autism coverage to anyone younger than 19 who is covered by the state's insurance plan for 2011. Coverage is capped at $36,000 for children up through the age of 6 and at $27,000 for children age 7 through 19. This bill specifically targets the use of evidence based practices, applied behavior analysis in particular: 'Applied behavior analysis means the design, implementation, and evaluation of environmental modifications, using behavioral stimuli and consequences, to produce socially significant improvement in human behavior, including the use of direct observation, measurement, and functional analysis of the relationship between environment and behavior (S. Sub. for HB 2160, p. 2, 2010).'
The next move is to extend this legislation, such that insurance mandated for all citizens of Kansas. Although significant lobbying is occurring for this, the current legislation will expire on December 31, 2011, followed by a review of its impact. If, after review, the state decides to retain the mandate, the earliest this is expected is 2013.
Plans for 2011–2012
In addition to monitoring this legislation, updating and upgrading our website, and hosting another conference—likely on clinical behavior analysis—we will pursue Internal Revenue Service tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) organization, as opposed to a 501(c)(6) organization, and have a membership drive to actively advance our mission.