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| OBM Sunday Poster Session |
| Sunday, May 25, 2025 |
| 1:00 PM–3:00 PM |
| Convention Center, Lower Level, Hall C |
| Chair: Christina Barosky (Bierman Autism Centers) |
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| 135. Optimizing Wellness: A Behavioral Approach to Employee Wellness in an In-Home Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Setting |
| Area: OBM; Domain: Applied Research |
| SHELBY QUIGLEY (Amigo Care ABA), Nicole Marie Burke (Amigo Care ABA), Alex Arevalo (Amigo Care ABA), Melissa Theodore (Amigo Care ABA), Mariah Padilla Beatty (Amigo Care ABA) |
| Abstract: Professionals in applied behavior analysis (ABA) face a significant risk of experiencing burnout, specifically exhaustion and disengagement (Slowiak & DeLongchamp, 2022). To mitigate these challenges, wellness programs can serve as a proactive approach by fostering employee engagement, addressing workplace stressors, and promoting well-being. Employee wellness programs vary widely, with limited research available to determine the critical components and optimal strategies for an effective design and intervention. Research on the implementation of behavioral interventions within employee wellness programs remains limited at this time. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and design an employee wellness program for an in-home agency employing 43 RBTs, 11 BCBAs, and 7 administrative staff. The program focused on enhancing employees' eight dimensions of wellness through a gamification-based approach. The assessment phase utilized direct and indirect measures, including surveys, preference assessments (Peterson, Lerman, & Nissen, 2016), and a PIC/NIC analysis, to identify wellness-related needs and barriers. A gamification-based model was utilized to increase employee participation and satisfaction by incorporating elements such as challenges, rewards, and progress tracking. Results will be discussed in more detail on the poster. |
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| 136. Evaluation of an Environmental Safety Checklist in an Inpatient Hospital |
| Area: OBM; Domain: Applied Research |
| SAGAR PATEL (Kennedy Krieger Institute), Hunter King (Oakland University), Emily Exline (Kennedy Krieger Institute), Jonathan Dean Schmidt (Kennedy Krieger Institute) |
| Discussant: Christina Barosky (Bierman Autism Centers) |
| Abstract: Previous literature has extensively focused on the role of supervisory feedback to ensure employee compliance with organizational safety policies and procedures. The present study builds on the methods employed by Schmidt et al. (2013) and Gianotti et al. (2020) by utilizing a checklist, visual cues, and written corrective feedback to increase adherence to the safety, structure, cleanliness, and organization guidelines on an inpatient behavior unit. After creating an environmental safety checklist detailing criteria for institute guidelines, a reversal design was used to determine the impact of interventions on the percentage of items completed correctly, based on direct observation. Interventions included a) additional staff assigned to monitor rooms, b) visual cues placed in session rooms, and c) written corrective feedback provided by supervisors, which was established based on results of the Performance Diagnostic Checklist – Human Services. Ultimately, mastery criteria of three consecutive sessions with a 90% accuracy score on the environmental safety checklist was maintained with the inclusion of supervisor feedback. Implications for implementing environmental-change procedures in hospital and clinical settings will be discussed. |
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| 137. In It for the Long Haul: 25+ Years of Adapting Behavioral Systems for Higher Education |
| Area: OBM; Domain: Service Delivery |
| Angela Engbrecht (University of Nevada Reno), MARKUS INGEBRIGTSEN (University of Nevada, Reno), Rita Olla (University of Nevada, Reno), Donna Marie West (University of Nevada, Reno), Theo A Fuentes (University of Nevada, Reno), Ramona Houmanfar (University of Nevada, Reno) |
| Abstract: Inspired by Keller’s Personalized System of Instruction (PSI), the first version of what is now the Structured-Pace, Personalized, Interactive, & Networked (SPIN) System of Instruction was adopted at the University of Nevada, Reno in 1994. This system of instruction was developed as a variation of PSI to meet the learning demands of the modern college system, while serving as a training opportunity for advanced undergraduate students and doctoral graduate students, providing them the opportunity to deepen content knowledge and associated instructional skills. SPIN has maintained a responsive and adaptive system over its 25+ year history, with changes driven by data and consumer feedback. Since 1999, more than 26 thousand freshman have studied psychology within the SPIN framework. Over 600 undergraduates, and nearly 100 doctoral students, have gained experience in college teaching. Moreover, several graduate research projects have guided the enhancement of SPIN, providing mutual benefit to the system and its consumers, as well as to the graduate students conducting research. This presentation will cover historic and current data related to the impacts of this PSI-informed system of instruction on academic performance and additional outcome measures, providing an overview of SPIN as a sustained behavioral system. |
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| 138. Training and Supervision of Registered Behavioral Technicians in School Settings: A Scoping Review |
| Area: OBM; Domain: Applied Research |
| SABRINA OLIVERA (University of Florida), Corina Jimenez-Gomez (University of Florida) |
| Discussant: Christina Barosky (Bierman Autism Centers) |
| Abstract: The number of Registered Behavioral Technicians (RBTs) has risen exponentially in recent years (Behavioral Analyst Certification Board, 2024), which has increased access to behavioral services for many consumers. The passing of recent laws (e.g., FL HB 795) has further expanded the ability of RBTs to providing behavior analytic services in the school setting. To ensure the growing number of RBTs deliver high quality, evidence-based services across settings, it is imperative to consider the quality of the training and supervision received by RBTs (Luiselli et al., 2017; Leaf et al, 2017). In an attempt to identify best practices for training, deploying, and supervising RBTs in the school setting, we identified a considerable lack of resources addressing this issue. Thus, the purpose of this scoping review of the literature was to identify practices for the training and supervision of RBTs in the school setting to inform best practice. Criteria for inclusion were peer reviewed and grey literature studies written in English identified in PsycINFO, Scopus, or Web of Science databases using the key terms “registered behavior technician” OR “paraprofessional” AND “school” AND “training”. Data extraction remains ongoing. |
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