How Hopebridge Sets up Behavior Analysts for Success in Their New Roles

What BCBA Onboarding Looks Like at Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers

It is natural to feel the first-day jitters when beginning a new job. There are the butterflies from the excitement of entering a world of opportunity, often mixed with nervousness around who you will encounter and the challenges that await.

At Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers, we want our new team members to feel those happy flutters, but we also feel it’s important to set them up for success from day one. This is why all of our new board certified behavior analysts (BCBA) embark on a four-week journey through our exclusive BCBA Onboarding Program.

What Can New BCBAs Expect at Hopebridge?

Whether brand new to Hopebridge or having grown into the the position from within our Fellowship Program, all new BCBAs have the opportunity to participate in the onboarding process.

“Taking on a new BCBA position may feel overwhelming to some. From the start of a job at Hopebridge, we feel it’s important to supply our behavior analysts with all the knowledge and tools they need to get acclimated and succeed,” said Hopebridge Clinical Trainer Briana Sebastian.

The structured plan covers everything a BCBA would need to know when starting a job at Hopebridge (beyond the ABA coursework). As a bonus, the onboarding program includes mentorship, dedicated time for job shadowing and facetime with company leadership.

To begin, each “onboarding class” participates in a week-long series of live virtual sessions, which are balanced with pre-recorded modules they are able to return to at a later date for ongoing reference. The group also connects via a virtual “chat,” where they can access key documents and resources, as well as collaborate with each other throughout the next few weeks, even as they continue to work in their own therapy centers across the nation.

The BCBA Onboarding Breakdown

The first week of onboarding is jam-packed with information!

On the first day, BCBAs are welcomed by Hopebridge Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dennis May, followed by presentations from other department leaders to share the company’s history, cultural cornerstones, multidisciplinary collaboration and the ABA backbone of the autism therapy program. The next day continues with more introductions from departments who are available to support BCBAs, like the Care and Benefits Coordinators, who manage the insurance process along with caregivers.

Training is a large part of the first week. BCBAs new to Hopebridge get accustomed to the various technologies utilized in the centers, as well as the process for scheduling, evaluations and assessments, meetings, billing notes, client discharge, and supervision of RBTs and Fellowship Program students.

The end of the first week wraps up with a few highlights. Participants are able to observe Hopebridge’s Grand Rounds process, which serves as a virtual support system for BCBAs. This gives BCBAs a peek into the internal outlet that will be available to them for interdisciplinary clinical support and guidance for some of the centers’ most challenging cases.

During these final days of the first week, BCBAs return to their new centers and are paired with other BCBAs who will serve as their mentors throughout the rest of the onboarding process. At this time, they begin job shadowing. This shadowing and coaching process continues throughout the next three weeks. As with the rest of onboarding, the shadowing is structured, which provides new employees with the opportunity to work with their mentors to practice and receive feedback on specific activities they learned about during the first week.

All throughout onboarding, participants have routine check-ins and access to office hours with Briana and the training team, which they can use to ask questions and problem-solve.

“Once onboarding is wrapped up, the learning never ends, but we designed our program so BCBAs can seamlessly transition into their new roles without questions about what will be expected of them during their time in the centers,” said Hopebridge Founder and Chief Clinical Officer Kim Strunk. “This not only gives them more comfort in their own roles, but it ensures they are able to continuously provide the best possible care for the children and families we serve.”

BCBAs New to Hopebridge on their Onboarding Experience

You’ve heard enough from us … now it’s time to hear it from the source! Here is what some of our BCBAs had to say about their onboarding experience:

“Joining the BCBA team with Hopebridge exceeded every vision I had of the job. I immediately felt welcomed into a community and culture of professionals, team members and colleagues who were just as excited as I was about the incredible Hopebridge experience. It gave me so much hope to know that a company large enough to offer wide ranges of benefits could feel like a small, personalized, individualized environment in the same light,” said Mackenzie C. Pass in the Marietta, Georgia therapy center.

“The onboarding process with Hopebridge has been nothing short of seamless. The support and guidance that I have been provided has set me up for success in my new clinic! I feel comfortable moving from the onboarding process to my role as a BCBA because of this experience and the continued support provided from everyone in Hopebridge,” said LaShae Holmes in the Gilbert, Arizona therapy center.

“I’m loving it! I’ve gotten so much support here at the center and during onboarding that I really felt ready when my first kiddo came on my caseload. Everything started to click from onboarding once I was able to work on it in the clinic and see it in action,” said Mikki Coburn from the Plainfield, Indiana therapy center.

“The onboarding process at Hopebridge has been very impressive! They have shown us that they care about their employees, clearly explained the expectations, and have made joining a new company very easy and exciting,” said Sam Murdoch from the Phoenix, Arizona therapy center.

Next Steps Toward a New Job with Hopebridge

Does this onboarding experience have you pumped for a job with Hopebridge? We are always searching for enthusiastic members to add to our team of Hopebridge Heroes. Check out our open positions in autism therapy centers throughout the United States to find the right match for you.

*Informed consent was obtained from the participants in this article. This information should not be captured and reused without express permission from Hopebridge, LLC.