Function First Behavior Analytic Services, LLC

07/01/2026

Dr. Jen is excited to join the International Behavior Analysis Organization and continue to support the global community in expanding behavior analytic practice.

16/12/2025

31/10/2025

Food insecurity could effect any of us. The Autism Connnection of Pennsylvania has shared some resources to help.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KH7C4YDYw/?mibextid=wwXIfrf

15/10/2025

This is a helpful summary with action items on how we can get involved and ensure our children receive the support they need and deserve.

23/09/2025

Function First stands with science and we appreciate the many organizations who have shared evidence-based resources today and every day.

Please take a moment to review this release from the American Psychiatric Association. Bold and unsubstantiated claims can have far-reaching consequences—some lead to direct harm, while others divert attention and resources away from interventions that are evidence-based and demonstrated to be truly beneficial.

It truly takes a village to keep science at the forefront. As part of our response to this evolving situation, ASAT is currently preparing an article titled Leucovorin: Is There Science Behind That? We look forward to sharing it with you soon and will post the link in this thread once it's available.

27/08/2025

If you're a parent or clinician aiming to learn more about the FBA process, improve the effectiveness of the assessment, and increase the usefulness of the recommendations, join Dr. Jen on September 10th.

Visit https://behaviorlive.com/ to register!

22/08/2025

Often with back-to-school excitement, also comes stress and worry about how your child will do with the current supports in place. An independent behavioral evaluation, program review, or Functional Behavior Assessment may help to answer questions and strengthen the current programming in place!

18/07/2025

🚨 Are We Doing Enough to Maximize the Impact of Our ABA Services?

As behavior analysts, we aim to provide meaningful, effective interventions—but too often, programs are developed without the detailed instructional assessments needed to truly individualize treatment. That means missed opportunities for progress—and a potential decrease in treatment efficacy.

I recently attended the APBA Lead Conference with a focus on increasing the quality of behavior analytic practice within the service delivery domain. One article highlighted included Kodak and Halbur (2021) who draw attention to a critical concern in our field: many interventions are implemented without sufficient assessment to guide instruction. As a result, we may unintentionally limit our clients' progress.

🧠 What can we do?
✔️ Use assessments to guide how we teach, not just what we teach
✔️ Analyze learner data regularly to adjust procedures
✔️ Train and support teams to move beyond protocol-based instruction to data-driven, individualized learning

This isn’t just good practice—it’s ethical, evidence-based, and ultimately better for our learners. 📈

Let’s raise the bar in our field—one assessment-informed decision at a time.

📖 Kodak, T., & Halbur, M. (2021). A Call to Increase the Use of Assessment-Based Instruction in Practice. Behavior Analysis in Practice.

22/05/2025

21/05/2025

When creating a reinforcement chart, you can design your own or use a template (there are many free templates available through software). Include your child in the development of the chart as much as possible to increase motivation!

1) Add the behaviors you want to increase
2) Note how many times they need to occur to access the reward
3) List what the reward is

Now try it out!

19/05/2025

Whether you're looking forward to the summer schedule or dreading the unstructured kid time, a reinforcement chart can be just what you need to ease into the summer months!

Stay tuned for Tips and Tricks all week long!

16/04/2025

A great opportunity to learn new strategies around picky eating!

We are beyond excited to introduce our incredible speaker, Dena Kelly, LPC, BCBA, LBS, who will delve into the fascinating topic of Picky Eating: Navigating Pediatric Feeding Challenges

🔗 https://buff.ly/SQdl2Zc

Dena Kelly, LPC, BCBA, LBS, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board Certified Behavior Analyst with nearly 20 years of experience in improving children's eating and quality of life. She founded Focused Approach, developing ABA-based feeding programs and training professionals and caregivers. Dena has spoken at national conferences like ABAI and FABA and has served as Director of Feeding and Diagnostics at a specialized clinic, treating children with feeding difficulties. She also created a pediatric feeding therapy program for a multi-clinic network, shaping the future of pediatric feeding therapy.

Learn more about Dena Kelly here: https://buff.ly/9GEfT8R

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity! Reserve your spot today!

With Focused Approach