Illinois ABA – 2025 Annual Report
By Natalia Baires
The Illinois Association for Behavior Analysis (ILABA) is an organization that strives to serve Illinois behavior analysts and their consumers through education and advocacy for the science and practice of behavior analysis. In alignment with the organizational values of curating an inclusive community, providing service and support, promoting learning, and embracing openness, ILABA encourages collaboration among behavior analysts in Illinois; fosters relations between practices and universities in Illinois; and maintains behavior analysts informed about licensure and certification, changes to insurance provision, continuing education opportunities, and public policy.
In 2025, the Board of Directors included Dr. Natalia Baires (president), Zhihui Yi (president-elect), Kelly Russell (secretary), Bridget Muñoz (communications coordinator), Marla Root (treasurer), Stephanie Howard (conference coordinator), Blair Monfre (conference coordinator-elect), Jamine Dettmering (member at large; chair of legislative affairs), Ruchi Sharma (member at large; chair of the diversity, equity, and inclusion committee), Manish Goyal (member at large; chair of practitioner affairs), Dr. Lesley Shawler (member at large; chair of academic affairs), and Catrina Barber (student representative).
During the previous year, ILABA engaged in numerous efforts towards pursuing licensure in Illinois, which resulted in the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation officially launching the online application for behavior analyst licensure in the state. Information about licensure, responses to frequently asked questions, and a history of ILABA’s legislative efforts can be accessed here.
To prepare for our first annual conference with two-track workshops, which was held on April 3-4, 2025 in Glen Ellyn, IL, ILABA reconvened its conference workgroup, which continued to create a space for ILABA members to network with one another and lead various initiatives related to conference planning. Our annual conference included workshops, a networking event, poster session for students to present their research, trivia event, its annual business meeting, and legislative affairs updates, among the various presentations conducted.
To become an ILABA member, interested parties can become a Full member (must hold a minimum of a master’s degree in psychology, behavior analysis, or a related discipline), Student/Technician member (must be 1] currently enrolled in a college degree program or in a post-graduate training program in behavior analysis or a related discipline and/or 2] working full or part time in the delivery of behavior analytic services under the supervision of a behavior analyst), or Affiliate member (i.e., individuals who do not qualify as Full or Student/Technician Member) by visiting the ILABA website.
Finally, there are several ways to connect with ILABA including the ILABA website, ILABA Facebook page, ILABA Instagram, ILABA LinkedIn, and by emailing the ILABA President.
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