Cooperant Learning Podcast | Behavior Analysis in Residential Care | Nick Christensen

CEUs: Sparks Behavioral Services, LLC (ACE #OP-21-0004) is an ACE-approved provider of continuing education units for behavior analysts. You can earn continuing education units (CEUs) for listening to this episode by visiting cooperantlearning.com!

Summary:
Today we talked with Nick Christensen, a BCBA and the clinical lead at HOMES Residential Care, a BCBA-owned and operated adult foster care home service in Michigan. Nick walks us through opportunities and challenges in group homes and adult foster care homes including treatment integrity, restrictive practices, staff training, and systemic changes to promote least restrictive environments.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
04:19 The Evolution of Homes Residential Care
09:11 Nick’s Role and Responsibilities
12:05 Consultative Role vs. Direct Care
18:18 Handling Challenging Behaviors
21:10 Discussion on Restrictive Practices
22:13 Crisis Intervention Strategies
23:59 Combating the Normalization of Restrictive Practices
25:01 Data-Driven Decision Making
27:08 Ethics in Behavior Analysis
29:15 Creating Positive Environments
31:09 Staff Training and Retention
33:11 Behavior Analytic Approaches in Staffing
35:07 Organizational Behavior Management
37:07 Challenges in the Adult Service System
49:36 Redesigning the Adult Service System

Guests
Nick is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Behavior Analyst and the President of Clinical Services at HOMES Residential Care. He grew up in Middleville, MI and graduated with a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Argosy University in 2017. In May of 2020, Nick earned his Masters degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University and passed the BCBA exam in September of that year. Nick has experience providing in-home ABA therapy to children with autism, and has also provided these services in a clinical setting. Prior to becoming certified and licensed, Nick served as a behavior technician for Sparks Behavioral Services for nearly three years, where he trained, implemented, and monitored behavior treatment plans of adults who live in specialized residences

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