District of Columbia ABA – 2025 Annual Report

By Lera Joyce Johnson

District of Columbia ABA (DC ABA) celebrated its seventh year. Although technically, the District of Columbia is actually quite small geographically, its metropolitan area extends to nearby states of Maryland and Virginia (aka, the DMV). The District of Columbia also has a different political structure than the sovereign 50 states. It has a city council and mayor but is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress which may impact any licensure effort in the District. Our neighbor affiliate chapters (VABA and MABA) have graciously supported the establishment of a DC ABA to focus on the specific needs of families and ABA providers in the District and the surrounding Metropolitan area. Neighboring states of Maryland and Virginia license behavior analysts. Currently, there is no licensing of behavior analysts in DC. As such, some insurance companies that only reimburse licensed therapists will not credential behavior analysts in DC. Some ABA-based treatment providers must make individual agreements with insurance companies that require only credentialed behavior analysts who are licensed. Person with disabilities and families of children with disabilities also lack the protection of quality of evidence-based services and ethical guidelines that licensing of credentialed behavior analysts allows. In July 2024, the DC City Council passed a licensing bill for behavior analysts in DC under the Board of Psychologists. The bill specified that one new member, a BCBA, would be added to the Psychology Board and that regulations would be in place within one calendar year. However, the position has not been filled and no regulations have been specified.

Mission

DCABA’s mission is to promote the professional practice, ethics, research, and dissemination of behavior analysis, and to provide its members with support and continuing education opportunities within the field of behavior analysis. DCABA commits to promoting diversity and inclusiveness in our organization and within the field of behavior analysis.

Structure

Executive Board

DC ABA is governed by an Executive Committee composed of the elected offices of President, Past-President, President-Elect/Vice President, and three At Large Representatives. The Committee is completed by the appointed positions of Secretary, Communication Officer, DEI (diversity, inclusion, and equity) coordinator, and Treasurer. The 2024 Executive Board is currently understaffed. The president position is currently shared between Mary Caruso-Anderson, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA (VA & MD) and Lera Joyce Johnson, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA (VA & MD), both Past-Presidents, Lorena Trujillo, BCBA (At Large), Chrystal Foster, BCBA (At Large). Appointed positions include: Andrea Jones, BCBA (Treasurer). Ms. Gabriel Torres requested to withdraw from her position. Members of the Board have taken over most of their responsibilities, and graciously, they occasionally provide support while the Board seeks their replacements. The Executive Board meets once per month.

Membership

DC ABA offers four categories of membership: Full Membership, Professional Membership, Affiliate Membership, and Student Membership. Full membership is available to any individual holding an active behavior analyst credential, for example BCBA or BCBA-Ds, or other credentialed behavior analysts. Full members may vote on membership decisions of the chapter. Professional membership is available to any individual holding an active BCaBA or RBT credential. Affiliate membership is available to any individual who has evidenced interest in the discipline of behavior analysis. This membership category may include parents or family members of clients, community members, teachers, individuals in related services or providers of services to mutual clients of behavior analysts. Student membership is available to any individual pursuing formal training in the discipline of behavior analysis. Currently, benefits at each level include discounted CEUs and event registrations.

Membership declined following COVID-19 and several Executive Members relocated. Membership fees were waived to previous members in 2024.

Events and Activities

Our first year: DC ABA became incorporated in February 2018 and became an affiliate chapter of ABAI in March 2018. Dechert law firm assisted DC ABA (pro bono) with the complicated process to apply for non-profit status in DC. This process was delayed due to the government shutdown, but we received our non-profit status May 10, 2019 and became an affiliate chapter of APBA November 20, 2019.

In 2021, Executive Board members presented at ABAI:

Caruso-Anderson, M., Johnson, L.J., Bishop, S., Torres, G., Escobar, C., Schock, K., Zaklis, E., Jackson, J.L., Williams, C., & Hoffman, F.D.A.L. (2021, May 30). ABA service provision and Medicaid in the District of Columbia, In symposium: Lessons learned by behavior analysts from areas working on fully implementing an ABA Medicaid benefit. Presentation at the 47^7h Annual Convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Virtual Conference, May 28-31, 2021

Current goals include: Our primary focus in 2024 was to facilitate the submission of a licensing model act in the District of Columbia. Other goals included increasing resources for mentoring young professionals and parents, increased membership, including recruiting parent members. Andrea Jones, BCBA, has served as our liaison to DC City Council.

Visit us online! DC ABA has established a social presence through its website – districtaba.org – Facebook DC ABA – and Twitter @districtaba