Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG

By Michael Weinberg

The Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis (PIBA) SIG is a special interest group that focuses on all areas of specialization for behavior analyst practitioners. This SIG developed a model licensing act for behavior analysts in 2007. The BACB’s model licensing act also drew heavily from the PIBA SIG’s model act to meet the needs and concerns of BCBA and BCaBA practitioners. We currently have a membership of 24 and also maintain a Facebook page for communication among members.

This SIG has worked with members and other SIGs on legal and ethical issues pertaining to the practice of behavior analysis. We promote and support means of ensuring the continued ability for behavior analysts to practice independently. The SIG provides a means of communicating about current trends and concerns pertaining to the practice of behavior analysis and efforts to place barriers for such practice by outside organizations or individuals. We help support and promote the ability for behavior analysts to provide high quality services to family members with autism and other areas of application of behavior analytic methods. We also have interest in the support of expansion of behavior analytic approaches to various populations outside autism and developmental disabilities.

There are currently 35 states which have licensure laws in place with more states considering legislation at this time for the practice of behavior analysis.

In the past year, the SIG has reached out to other relevant SIGs to promote our mission and work collaboratively with all SIGs. Given the growth in the number of states with licensure bills in place and ongoing expansion of this process, our SIG can be a place for practitioners to share information and discuss opportunities and strategies to promote the practice of behavior analysis. We also participate as an integral part of ABAI overall by working together with the other SIGs on this matter of great importance and concern in our evolution as a profession.

We extend our support to efforts of the ABAI Practice Board on such efforts. This may include providing training, linking practice to the research literature, and making resources available to practitioners.

The SIG is involved in support efforts to promote the practice of behavior analysis, public policy and practice matters, promoting application of behavior analysis with various client populations and types of behavior. We promote the science of behavior, evidence-based practice, and support linkage between these aspects of behavior analysis.

We are seeking nominations for officers for the coming year. Please join our PIBA SIG List Facebook to post your nominations for officers. We welcome new members and hope to meet with those interested at the annual convention and other ABAI conventions.

Please sign and request to join the list. We do not keep a separate list of our SIG members. We have 37 on our Facebook list.

Members in this SIG can be found on Facebook at:
www.facebook.com/groups/629483010970310