Setting the Stage: The Practical Functional Assessment

1.5 General CEUs

*This is a self-contained module from the “Beyond the Protocol” workshop, a comprehensive workshop on PFA and SBT.

Course Abstract: This module provides an in-depth look at the Practical Functional Assessment (PFA), the assessment that identifies what drives a learner’s interfering behavior and sets up the treatment that follows. Approached from a practitioner’s lens rather than a review of the literature, the module covers the core assumptions the PFA rests on, the open-ended interview used to identify a learner’s reinforcement, triggers, and interfering behaviors, and how that information informs the PFA design. Participants learn how to conduct the assessment, how to recognize when control has been established and the assessment is complete, and other components to look for to get the most out of each PFA. The module closes with live video review and practice in PFA data collection.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this training, participants will be able to…

• Describe the five-step PFA process and explain how each step informs the development of an individualized SBT treatment plan
• Identify the core assumptions underlying the PFA
• Learn to use information gathered in the open-ended interview to define a learner’s HRE baseline, synthesized reinforcement, evocative conditions, and response class of interfering behaviors
• Design the two conditions of a PFA (an enriched SR context and EO chains) and progress the EO effectively to increase successful outcomes
• Collect and analyze PFA data to determine when control has been established and the assessment is complete

Presenter Bios:
Hillary Laney, MA, BCBA, LBA spearheaded a company-wide transformation to assent-based care at one of the largest ABA organizations in the country. She built the mentorship infrastructure, data systems, and implementation frameworks that resulted in hundreds of clinicians and clinical leaders being trained and thousands of clients benefiting from PFA/SBT and assent-based care practices. She currently works as a Senior VP of Clinical Services at Centria Autism.

Liisa Podosek, MSW, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA built and delivered mentorship programs that transformed how hundreds of practitioners implement PFA/SBT and assent-based care, guiding clinicians from “I read about this” to “I can do this confidently.” She brings a trauma-informed lens to mentorship, helping practitioners navigate difficult cases and develop authentic caregiver partnerships. She currently leads the development and coordination of educational offerings through PFA & SBT Community.

Dr. Edward Sanabria, Ph.D, BCBA, LBA designed and implemented large-scale PFA/SBT mentorship systems that trained clinicians across the country in assessment and treatment approaches that prioritize client safety, dignity, and assent. His research interests in interdisciplinary collaboration, reflective practice, and the large-scale adoption of behavioral interventions inform his approach to helping practitioners develop humility-driven clinical practices that build strong therapeutic relationships. He currently serves as Senior Director of Functional Analysis and Treatment Implementation at Centria Autism, where he oversees national assent-based care training initiatives and PFA/SBT mentorship.