01/16/09 - Institute researcher becomes board certified behavior analyst

Date: January 16, 2009
Contact: Seth Seymour
423.648.1709
seth.seymour@siskin.org

Institute researcher becomes board certified behavior analyst
Credential strengthens Institute’s ability to offer behavior assessment and intervention for children with special needs

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Amy Casey, Ph.D., a research scientist at Siskin Children’s Institute, has become a board certified behavior analyst by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc.

With her BCBA credential, Dr. Casey is qualified to assess and intervene with children who display challenging behaviors. A BCBA credential allows her to:
-conduct descriptive and systematic behavioral assessments and provide behavior analytic interpretations of the results;
-design and supervise behavior analytic interventions;
-develop and implement appropriate assessment and intervention methods for use in unfamiliar situations and for a range of cases;and
-teach others to carry out ethical and effective behavior analytic interventions based on published research, and design and deliver instruction in behavior analysis.

“Parents and teachers always need help addressing behavior issues,” said Institute president Jerry Jensen. “Dr. Casey’s newest qualification is one more way we can provide much-needed help.”

Two other Institute employees are in the process of earning their BCBA credentials. Applicants must possess at least a master’s degree, have 225 classroom hours of specific graduate-level coursework, meet experience requirements, and pass a stringent examination.

Dr. Casey joined the Institute’s research center — the Siskin Center for Child and Family Research — in October 2008. She recently earned her Ph.D. in Early Childhood Special Education from Vanderbilt University. Her primary research focus is providing effective performance feedback to educators and promoting child engagement.

To learn more about Dr. Casey and the Siskin Center for Child and Family Research, visit www.siskinresearch.org. For more information about the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc., visit www.bacb.com.

About Siskin Children’s Institute
Since 1950, Siskin Children's Institute has served children with special needs, such as autism, developmental
delays and Down syndrome. The Institute achieves its mission in a comprehensive way: a quality preschool
education where children with disabilities learn together with typically developing children; family support and
community outreach programs; innovative research focusing on early childhood development and special
education; and developmental and behavioral pediatric health care. For more information about Siskin
Children’s Institute, visit www.siskin.org.

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