Our Services

Problem Behavior Reduction

Many times, the individual displaying problem behaviors is doing so because they do not know how to get their message across in a better or more socially-acceptable way. The problematic behavior is actually functional. It allows the individual to get certain needs met.

Our team conducts functional behavior assessments to determine the cause of these behavior issues.

What is Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)?

Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) is considered to be a professional standard for anyone who is providing behavioral support services. In 1988, the Association for Behavior Analysis published a “Right to Effective Treatment,” which included the right of anyone who is receiving behavioral intervention services to a professionally-competent functional assessment.

The FBA is a process for gathering information about a problem behavior and allowing our team to maximize the effectiveness of our intervention.

To understand what is happening, we need to know what the function of the behavior is. In other words, we need to know what the person engaging in the behavior is getting out of it. Why is it working for them? What in the environment is maintaining the behavior?

Once our team knows that we can then formulate a hypothesis about why the behavior is happening and develop an effective intervention.

Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention

It is universally recognized that intervention is most effective when provided as early as possible, in order to give the child the best possible results and reduce further developmental delays. Our Behavior Analysts work with children as soon as they are diagnosed – which could be as early as 2 years of age. This type of therapy is intensive and comprehensive, and often may be approved by insurance for 25 + hours per week.

During the initial phase, our team conducts assessments, performs an analysis of the results, determines the goals to target immediately, and prepares the intervention program.

Once the program is ready, we conduct a short training workshop for family members and others who will interact with your child on the principles of behavior, errorless learning, the verbal behavior approach, and pertinent aspects of the program. Hands-on training is conducted to demonstrate effective teaching procedures, so that all who interact with the child can also participate in the therapy, thus ensuring the most efficient therapeutic results. Bi-weekly or monthly team meetings are held to review progress, modify the intervention program, and provide on-going training. Comprehensive written updates are provided monthly, along with graphs indicating progress.

The Additional Services We Offer

• ABA therapy with an emphasis on verbal behavior

  • • Comprehensive Therapy Early

• Intensive Behavioral Therapy: for children 18 months to 5 years

  • • Focused Therapy

• Social and adaptive skills training

• BACB Continuing Education (ACE Provider)

• Functional communication training

• Educational training

  • • For parents and caregivers

    • For direct care staff

    • For schools and child care staff

    • For academic and professional staff

• Supervision program for aspiring BCaBAs and BCBAs

• Educational Services

  • • Behavioral Learning Academy

• Adult Developmentally Disabled Services

Adult Community Outreach Program

Behavior Analysis services are provided to adults in group homes, family homes, sheltered workshops, and community venues in the Gainesville, Lake City, and surrounding areas.

Insurance and Other Payment Options We Accept

Due to the passing of the Stephen Gellar “Window of Opportunity” Law in Florida in 2008, health insurance carriers are mandated to pay for ABA or behavioral therapy treatment for children under the age of 21 who are diagnosed with Autism and/or Down's Syndrome.

Some insurance carriers also fund this therapy for children with other diagnoses and documented behavioral problems. Below is a list of insurance carriers with whom we are credentialed and in network. Please note that we are continuously updating our credentialing, so if your insurance is not listed, contact us to see if we can help!

If your insurance does not cover ABA therapy, we will work with you to help find affordable options.

Therapy for children under 21 years of age:

• BlueCross Blue Shield Plans (including Florida Blue)

• United HealthCare / Optum

• AvMed / Optum

• Aetna

• Cigna

• TRICARE/Humana

• Sunshine

• Florida Medicaid

• Family Empowerment Scholarship (formerly Gardiner Scholarship, AKA Step Up for Students)

• Private Pay

Behavioral Learning Academy:

• McKay Scholarship

• Family Empowerment Scholarship (formerly Gardiner Scholarship, AKA Step Up for Students)

Adults with Disabilities:

• Agency for Persons with Disabilities (Medicaid-Waiver Developmental Disabilities programs)