The person who will spend the most time with your child in ABA is usually their RBT, the Registered Behavior Technician who runs sessions. It is natural to want to meet them, and the BCBA who supervises them, before the first session. At Hope Center, families have the option to meet their child's assigned staff before services start. This page explains how to use that meeting well, with questions to ask and things to share.
Can I meet my child's team before ABA starts?
Yes. Meeting your child's assigned staff before services begin is an option at Hope Center. Tell the intake team you would like to when the start date is being arranged. Services usually begin 3 to 5 business days after insurance approves the treatment plan, so ask early to fit the meeting in.
How and where the meeting happens can vary, so ask us what is possible for your family. You can learn about our clinical leadership on our team page before you meet.
Who is on my child's team?
| Role | What they do | How to check their credential |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) | Delivers sessions with your child, following the plan, and collects data | BACB certificant registry; it also shows the RBT's supervisor |
| Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) | Assesses your child, writes and updates the plan, supervises the RBT weekly, leads weekly parent training | BACB certificant registry |
| Clinical director | Reviews every plan before it goes to insurance. At Hope Center: Aisha Albright-Jourdan, MSW, LCSW, BCBA | BACB registry for the BCBA; Florida Department of Health license search for the LCSW |
| Front desk and operations | Scheduling, intake and insurance questions | Not applicable |
Florida does not issue its own behavior analyst license. The credential to look for is BACB certification, which Florida recognizes in law (Fla. Stat. 393.17). For more on the roles, read BCBA vs RBT vs BCaBA.
What should I ask the RBT?
- How will you get to know my child in the first sessions?
- What will a typical session look like, and how long will it be?
- What do you do when my child says no or needs a break?
- What will you do if my child gets upset or unsafe?
- How will I know how a session went?
- What is the best way to reach you with a quick question?
- What do you need from me during sessions at home?
What should I ask the BCBA?
- Which goals will you start with, and why?
- How often will you supervise sessions, and will I see you there?
- When is parent training, and what will we work on first?
- How will you measure progress, and when will we review it together?
- How do you coordinate with my child's school, daycare or doctors?
- If something is not working, how will we change it?
Some answers you can already expect at Hope Center: BCBAs supervise RBTs weekly, parent training happens weekly and is where goals and plans are discussed, and you can text or call the RBT, the BCBA or the front desk. Our approach is trauma-informed, assent-based and play-based, and we do not use restraint. Staff can also join IEP meetings, doctor visits, haircuts and dental visits where allowed.
BACB rules set a floor for RBT supervision: at least 5 percent of the RBT's service hours each month, with at least two face-to-face, real-time contacts a month, one of which includes observing the RBT with a client.
What should I tell the team about my child?
The first meeting is also your chance to give the team a head start. Bring or share:
- What your child loves: favorite toys, shows, foods, songs, characters and games. These become the starting point for building trust.
- How your child communicates: words, signs, pictures, a device, or behavior that tells you something.
- Signs your child is getting overwhelmed, and what helps them calm down.
- Things to avoid: sounds, textures, words or situations that upset your child.
- Health information that matters in sessions, such as allergies, seizures or medications.
- Your family's language and routines. We offer services in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Bengali and Russian.
A one-page "all about me" sheet works well. Our guide to preparing for the first ABA session has more tips.
What if the fit does not feel right?
Say so. It is better to raise a concern early than to wait. Start with the BCBA. If you still have concerns, you can take them to the assistant clinical director, and then to the executive director. A short conversation often fixes things, such as a schedule change or a different approach to a hard part of the day.
What should I bring to the meeting?
- Your list of questions, from this page or your own
- The "all about me" sheet, or notes you can read from
- Your weekly schedule, so you can talk about session times and parent training
- Any recent reports the team has not seen yet, such as a new IEP or a speech evaluation
Write down the names of the people you meet and how to reach each of them.
Should my child come to the meeting?
That depends on your child. Some children do well meeting a new person in a familiar place with a favorite activity, and recognizing a face on the first day can make the start smoother. Others find new people stressful, and it is fine for you to meet the team first and introduce your child at the first session. Tell us what you think will work best.
Ready to meet your team?
If you are already in intake, tell us you would like to meet your child's assigned staff before the start date. If you are just starting, request a free consultation and benefits check, call 561-337-8865 or email office@hopecenteraba.com. Our new families page explains each step.