Investment in skills-based treatment and mentorship model driving success for clients while upending traditional treatment models throughout industry
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Oct. 23, 2023 - Centria Autism, a national provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism and their families, achieved a significant milestone in its efforts to fundamentally change autism treatment for children by delivering its 500th Practical Functional Assessment (PFA).
The PFA is a brief, in-person assessment that is used to identify why a person is engaging in behavior that is concerning to their welfare or gets in the way of achieving their goals. Using these insights, Centria technicians can develop patient-centric treatment plans that achieve meaningful outcomes.
Previously, the goal of an assessment was to see the dangerous behavior in action, and then try to backtrack into the reasons that dangerous behavior occurred. With the PFA, the goal is still to identify the root of this behavior, but only in an environment that is safe and immediately translated to effective treatment — something achieved by responding to less intense versions of the behavior.
Of the 500 assessments, Centria's Functional Assessment and Treatment Department conducted a thorough review and analysis of 300 — well above the 10% industry standard. The data from the 300 analyzed demonstrated that 99.7% were completed in a safe environment, with only 38 instances of any dangerous behaviors.
"The Practical Functional Assessment is a critical tool in Centria's work to help the individuals we serve achieve their goals in a way that is dignified and safe," said Hillary Laney, Vice President of Functional Assessment and Treatment at Centria Autism. "By understanding what is occurring in the environment that causes the individual to engage in dangerous behavior, we can develop interventions that are effective, sustainable and center around each individual client."
Not only is the use of the PFA safer for clients and staff, it is also more efficient when compared to other types of assessments.
Assessment Tool
Average Time to Complete
Practical Functional Assessment
21 minutes
Brief FA*
72 minutes
Multi-Element*
150 minutes
Reversal Functional Analysis*
281 minutes
*(Saini, Fisher, Retzlaff, & Keevy, 2020)
"Utilizing PFAs is another example of how Centria is revolutionizing its ABA practice to focus on the dignity of our clients," said Timothy Yeager, Chief Clinical Officer at Centria. "This method is inherently safer, takes less time and allows our clinicians to spend more time working on outcomes over assessment."
PFAs are a critical part of Centria's overarching Foundations of Care model, which encompasses the components that drive client-centered and dignified care: A behavior intervention plan, called the Foundational Plan, Practical Functional Assessment, and Skill-Based Treatment.
The Foundations of Care model is made possible by supporting initiatives like Centria's proprietary patient software, CareConnect, which offers skills-based treatment modules and comprehensive capabilities for tracking patient progress. The software also presents staff with optimal care plans while ensuring clients remain happy, relaxed and engaged. The organization also recently initiated a mentorship model designed to support values-directed compassionate care, focusing on creating a positive, supportive environment where employees can grow and excel in delivering outstanding autism therapy.
About Centria Autism
Centria Autism is a leading national provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism and their families. Headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan – a suburb of Detroit – Centria employs continuous efforts to advance the science of ABA and deliver high-quality support through their Foundations of Care model, centering clients and individualizing care through Practical Functional Assessment and Skills-Based Treatment (PFA-SBT). Centria aligns each client's unique aspirations with developmentally appropriate treatment goals to inform compassionate, trauma-informed care, respecting the dignity and value of each client served.
For further information, please visit www.centriahealthcare.com.
SOURCE Centria Autism
