With all center-based services, the long-term goal is for the skills gained in this environment to be generalized to a more natural environment, such as the child’s home, daycare, preschool, or any other environment in which the child or family regularly spends time. The Lancaster center in which we currently provide these services was physically set up in such a way as to support children who are 6 years old and younger.  At this time, we do not have facilities for center-based services for bigger, older children.

Why Center-Based Services Are Recommended

When it is medically necessary, referring Physicians and assessing Behavior Analysts will recommend center-based services. Reasons that this location for services might be deemed medically necessary include the child having a complete lack of communication and participation skills.

Individually-Focused Program With Fewer Environmental Distractions

Providing services in a center-based program allows the clinicians to control the entire environment to make it more conducive to the behavioral shaping needed for the child to learn to communicate and participate in a way that may not be possible in a home environment.

Often, in home environments with naïve learners as described above, it is difficult to compete with things in the home. Favorite toys, TV, bed, favorite people, and what is typically allowed/not permitted for the child in the home may interfere with treatment procedures.

In these cases, services are started in the center so that clinicians have more control over and can manipulate the environment to bring about learning that has not yet naturally occurred.

Customized, Individualized Approach to Building Social and Communication Skills

Another reason that center-based services may be deemed medically necessary is when a child does not demonstrate the skills needed to interact with peers or interact within a group setting/group activities.

Our center-based services are set up in such a way to mimic a typical preschool setting with opportunities for group activities, play with peers, and communication with peers.

Providing opportunities for the child to interact within a group and interact with peers in the controlled environment of the center allows clinicians to isolate and teach skills that are needed for these types of social interactions.

Your Child’s ABA Treatment Intervention Plan

Our master’s level clinicians use this advanced education and experience to develop, train, and lead your child’s treatment plan. They start with an assessment of need where they will work with you to assess your child’s needs, your family’s needs, and your concerns for your child.

Based on these assessed strengths and needs, they will develop a complete treatment intervention plan that they will discuss and explain to you. You will have the opportunity to approve this plan or ask for modifications before you approve it. After you approve the treatment intervention plan, the master’s level clinicians work with your health insurance company to get authorization to move forward with providing this treatment.

Throughout your child’s treatment, the master’s level clinician will provide ongoing supervision, training, and support to the Behavior Tech working alongside your child. They will also provide family training and support to help teach you the skills that you need to support your child’s treatment. Although the master’s level clinicians are not providing direct daily services, they are still accessible to you whenever you have questions or concerns throughout the intervention.