Oregon ABA

By Vickey Foster

ORABA increased its membership and provided members with additional opportunities to serve and engage. ORABA has worked hard to engage student analysts and increase its student membership. In 2023, ORABA hosted its annual conference virtually and in person to provide continuing education to members across the state.

At the end of 2023, we have seen an increase in BCBAs and BCaBAs with 445 active Licensed Behavior Analysts compared to 388 in the previous year and 25 active Licensed Assistant Behavior Analysts compared to the previous 19. However, we have seen a decrease in the active Registered Behavior Analysis Interventionists in Oregon with current numbers at 1388 compared to the previous reporting of 1521. ORABA membership has made a slight increase over the year but is still relatively small with 111 certified members and 23 Student/ Behavior Technicians with active memberships. One of ORABA’s goals for the next year is to continue increasing membership while providing resources to the community. In 2023, ORABA focused on student membership and engagement. ORABA sent two of our student representatives to the BABA Conference in Detroit with all their expenses paid. The ORABA Student Representatives group was also able to provide four scholarships to RBAI/Students in the state for our 2023 ORABA Conference.

ORABA’s annual conference, “Seeing and Knowing’: Pursuing Connection,” occurred in November. The conference was held both virtually and in-person. ORABA’s keynote speaker, Dr. Mari-Luci Cerda, Ph.D. BCBA, presented to members on the topic of Culturally Safe and Responsive Practices. Dr. Mari-Luci Cerda encouraged participants to understand how historical systems of bias can maintain cultural heredity within our practices, leading to inadvertent harm and limitations to providing truly responsive and safe care.

Opportunities for students to engage in behavior analytic studies through Oregon’s higher education system include Portland State University, the University of Oregon, and the Oregon Institute of Technology. All institutions provide course sequences for certification in applied behavior analysis.