BAS Collaboration and Communication 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A caregiver reports they cannot consistently implement the home behavior plan because of work schedule constraints. The BCBA supervisor should:
- Discontinue the home component of the intervention
- Problem-solve collaboratively with the caregiver to adapt the plan to their actual schedule and capacity (Correct answer)
- Document non-compliance and escalate to the funding source
- Reduce the client's treatment hours to match caregiver availability
Correct answer: Problem-solve collaboratively with the caregiver to adapt the plan to their actual schedule and capacity
Effective caregiver collaboration requires understanding real-world constraints and adapting plans to be feasible within the family's context.
Question 2: When training caregivers on a new skill acquisition program, which instructional sequence is most consistent with behavioral skills training (BST)?
- Provide written instructions, then observe caregiver performance at the next session
- Explain the rationale, model the procedure, have the caregiver practice, and provide immediate feedback (Correct answer)
- Email a video tutorial and ask the caregiver to review it independently
- Have the caregiver observe the RBT for two weeks before attempting the skill independently
Correct answer: Explain the rationale, model the procedure, have the caregiver practice, and provide immediate feedback
BST follows the sequence of instruction, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback, which produces the most reliable skill acquisition in caregivers.
Question 3: A parent disagrees with the BCBA's recommendation to use planned ignoring for attention-maintained behavior. The BCBA supervisor's best approach is to:
- Implement the procedure anyway since it is evidence-based
- Abandon the recommendation entirely and use a less effective strategy
- Explain the behavioral rationale with data, address concerns, and collaboratively reach a decision the family supports (Correct answer)
- Refer the family to a different provider
Correct answer: Explain the behavioral rationale with data, address concerns, and collaboratively reach a decision the family supports
Treatment decisions should be made collaboratively with caregivers, with the BCBA explaining evidence while genuinely addressing the family's values and concerns.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the concept of cultural humility in the context of caregiver communication?
- Assuming all families from the same cultural background share identical values
- Recognizing the limits of one's own cultural knowledge and approaching each family as the expert on their own culture (Correct answer)
- Avoiding discussion of cultural differences to prevent discomfort
- Applying culturally specific protocols developed for the client's ethnic group
Correct answer: Recognizing the limits of one's own cultural knowledge and approaching each family as the expert on their own culture
Cultural humility involves ongoing self-reflection, recognizing one's own biases, and treating each family as the authority on their own cultural context.
Question 5: A caregiver frequently calls the BCBA supervisor outside of scheduled sessions with questions. The best way to manage this while maintaining a collaborative relationship is to:
- Block the caregiver's number and redirect all communication to the office
- Establish clear communication guidelines, including preferred methods and response times, at the start of services (Correct answer)
- Answer every call immediately to show dedication to the family
- Refer the caregiver to the RBT for all between-session questions
Correct answer: Establish clear communication guidelines, including preferred methods and response times, at the start of services
Setting clear communication boundaries at the start of services prevents misunderstandings and models professional boundaries for both caregivers and supervisees.
Question 6: Progress reports shared with caregivers should primarily be written in language that is:
- Highly technical to demonstrate clinical expertise
- Plain, jargon-free, and directly tied to meaningful changes in the client's daily functioning (Correct answer)
- Brief to the point of omitting all data to avoid overwhelming families
- Identical in format to reports submitted to insurance companies
Correct answer: Plain, jargon-free, and directly tied to meaningful changes in the client's daily functioning
Caregiver progress reports should use accessible language and connect data to real-world skill improvements that matter to the family.
Question 7: During caregiver training, the BCBA supervisor observes the caregiver performing a skill with 60% fidelity. The appropriate next step is to:
- Certify the caregiver as trained and move to the next skill
- Provide specific corrective feedback and have the caregiver practice again immediately (Correct answer)
- Document the deficit but wait until the next session to address it
- Assign a written review of the skill and recheck in two weeks
Correct answer: Provide specific corrective feedback and have the caregiver practice again immediately
Immediate corrective feedback and re-practice are essential components of BST to ensure caregivers reach acceptable fidelity before implementing independently.
BAS Collaboration and Communication 3
A caregiver reports they cannot consistently implement the home behavior plan because of work schedule constraints.
The BCBA supervisor should: