Getting Started
—
North Arrow provides ABA therapy to individuals medically diagnosed with Autism. Our skilled team of Behavior Analysts bring decades of experience in a variety of settings, diversifying our collaborative pool of expertise. We serve children as young as 18 months through young adulthood and beyond. Our services may take place in our clinical center, in your home, in school, or in the community. As a medically necessary service, most insurance plans include ABA therapy as a component of their behavioral health benefit. North Arrow accepts most major commercial insurances as well as Michigan Medicaid. To begin the admissions process, we encourage you to reach out via phone or email- we are happy to help guide you through the process!
info@northarrowaba.com
(231) 268-0007
Assessment
—
Effective behavior change procedures begin with a quality assessment, or a snapshot of skills and variables that contribute to maladaptive behavior.
There are a number of evidence-based tools in the field of behavior analysis, and our staff are trained and experienced. Selecting the right assessment for your child is imperative to achieve meaningful results.
North Arrow ABA is equipped to conduct assessment using the following tools:
Verbal Behavior Milestones and Placement Program (VB-MAPP)
Promoting Emergence of Advanced Knowledge (PEAK)
Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (ABLLS-R)
Assessment of Functional Living Skills (AFLS)
Socially Savvy
Essential For Living (EFL)
Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) and Functional Analysis (FA)
Practical Functional Assessment (PFA)
Treatment
—
North Arrow aims to provide treatment services in the least intrusive manner, addressing the issues presented by families with urgency.
We serve children and adults ages 1-26. Our outcomes are measured by evaluating progress toward family-set objectives, and begin discharge planning from the onset of assessment and treatment. Services may occur at individualized recommended hours, ranging from 10-40 hours per week. And, we’ll work with you to fit your schedule, with potential availability from 8AM—8PM, seven days a week.
Skill Acquisition
One of the primary goals of ABA treatment is the acquisition of socially important skills. These can be skills that are delayed as compared to typically developing peers, or those that are necessary to replace maladaptive behavior. North Arrow ABA develops programming individualized to each client by drawing from assessed skill deficits, curriculum guides, and parent-led goals.
Reduction of Problem Behavior
Problem behavior exhibited by children affected by ASD and other developmental disabilities is often the biggest barrier to learning. North Arrow ABA acknowledges that these types of behavior always serve a function, and it’s our job to find out what that is.
ABA therapy is categorized into two treatment models- Focused or Comprehensive. Both models can take place in a variety of settings- center, home, community, or a hybrid. The clinical recommendation, of weekly therapy hours, is determined through an in-depth, initial assessment, conducted by the Behavior Analyst at the onset of treatment.
Comprehensive vs. Focused
A Focused Treatment package, as the name implies, focuses on a limited number of goals and can range in intensity from 10-25 hours per week. Focused Treatment may be appropriate for individuals who need treatment only for a limited number of key functional skills, or have acute problem behavior.
A Comprehensive Treatment package targets a larger variety of goals that span across multiple areas of functioning- cognitive, communicative, social, emotional, adaptive, and maladaptive behaviors. Intensity levels of weekly services may include 30-40 hours per week. This treatment program may focus on decreasing behaviors that are interfering with learning, in order to prepare the individual for integrating into a classroom setting.
Caregiver Training
Caregiver Training refers to “[training to conduct] interventions with parents that aim to help parents cope better with the problems they experience with their children” (Booth, Gallagher, Keenan, 2018). This training is designed to assist parents and/or caregivers in obtaining the skill(s) and support needed from their child’s Behavior Analyst. It can help augment current parenting strategies and provides the ability for children to take skills targeted in one-on-one sessions and then generalize them within their natural environment. North Arrow adapts this training to fit the needs of each individual caregiver. These individualized components can involve contrived role play, rigid behavior plans, toileting, community-based training (going to stores, etc.), and an opportunity to discuss and/or vent frustrations you may be experiencing. Most importantly, research has clearly shown that family/caregiver training has long-term, positive benefits for the child.
Continuity of Care
North Arrow believes that collaboration among professionals is essential in providing comprehensive and effective treatment for our clients. Collaboration allows therapists from different disciplines (speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychiatry, school, etc.) to combine their expertise; this holistic approach ensures that all aspects of the individual's development and well-being are addressed.
Additionally, it is important to note that each client’s profile is unique, and the presence of comorbidities may impact treatment approaches and strategies- which is why collaboration is of utmost importance. Common comorbid diagnoses may include, but are not limited to, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, epilepsy, sleep disorders, and gastrointestinal conditions.
Treatment in Natural Settings
In-home assessment and treatment will yield more information as to the variables that may reinforce and maintain problem behavior.
It allows for more immediate visibility and interaction between the provider and the family, promoting greater involvement from stakeholders.
Tangible reinforcers that children are surrounded by on a day-to-day basis are able to be utilized in-home.
More immediate generalization may occur when behavior is addressed in the settings where deficits and problems are noticed and present.
Family guidance and training may be more conveniently provided when the home is also the treatment setting.
The home is the most likely to be the least restrictive treatment setting possible.
Research suggests that some of ABA’s most effective interventions can have long term benefits when implemented in-home and by parents as the interventionists (Derby et al, 1997).
Services can also occur in school and community environments when appropriate.
Center-Based Treatment
Center-based services provide a greater level of control over the environment, and may allow for more expedient behavior change.
Research suggests the rate of learning may be increased, leading to better outcomes when services are provided in-center (Roberts et al, 2011).
Staff presence in-center allows for greater support in the event of crisis-level behavior.
Children may have the opportunity to interact and generalize social skills with unfamiliar practitioners as well as with peers with ASD who also receive services at the center (Dixon et al, 2017)
Maintenance
—
Once treatment is a success, maintenance of skills must be addressed.
We work with families after treatment to ensure everything your child learned during treatment stays in place. This can involve regularly scheduled meetings, a review of data collected by the parent, or check ins to ensure the problems have not reappeared.
Adult Services
—
Learning doesn’t stop at adulthood.
Many of our Behavior Analysts have extensive experience working with the adult population. Targeting social, vocational, daily living, and other essential skills can help prepare adult learners for independent living or post-academic life. We can support in teaching specific skills like dining out, shopping, using transportation, applying for a job, and more! Some insurance plans may have an age limit in place for ABA therapy. Please consult our Admissions Department to learn more about this individualized service.
Professional Consultation
—
We provide consultation services and trainings for organizations and clinical staff in need of professional development.
Continuing education credits are available for BCBAs and BCaBAs through North Arrow ABA, an Authorized Continuing Education (ACE) provider through the Behavior Analysis Certification Board.
Family Training Workshop
North Arrow ABA is pleased to offer the 4-hour Family Training Workshop to providers of Applied Behavior Analysis services in Michigan. This workshop evaluates the components of best-practice Family Training using the principles of behavior, with the goal of building skills of supervisory staff in creating treatment fidelity and adherence with their clients’ families.
Information collected from MDHHS, JABA, and other flagship journals are synthesized to present the most up-to-date analysis of this crucial service and its delivery. Behavioral Skills Training is utilized on-site to provide opportunities for modeling, feedback, and practice within the 3-hour workshop. Additional components of the workshop include:
2 hours of didactic training, including literature reviews of the functional assessment of family adherence
Practical guidance from 10 years experience in delivering family training from lead consultant, Jonathan Timm, MA, BCBA, LBA
Pre-test and post-test data to analyze acquisition of didactic material
2 hours of practical learning opportunities
Three individual breakout BST role-play opportunities with guided instructions and feedback opportunities
Shaping of practitioner skills to be utilized in-vivo following workshop
Mastery-based advancement through BST learning opportunities
Citations and references for additional professional development
ACE provider, CEUs upon request
Crisis Management Training
Jonathan Timm, MA, BCBA, LBA, North Arrow ABA’s lead consultant has been a certified Professional Crisis Management instructor since 2014. He has taught crisis management techniques including crisis prevention, non-physical de-escalation, crisis intervention, and post-crisis strategies for multiple organizations. The Professional Crisis Management (PCM) system is model designed by Board Certified Behavior Analysts, and has been developed in best practice since 1981.
North Arrow ABA is proud to offer crisis management training in multiple levels (non-physical and physical management), providing PCM certification for trainees. Professional Crisis Management Training can be beneficial for schools, hospitals, autism centers and other organizations across Michigan. Contact us today for more information. Also, see www.pcma.com for more information about the Professional Crisis Management Association.
Translation Services
North Arrow ABA will take reasonable steps to ensure that persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) have meaningful access and an equal opportunity to participate in our services, activities, programs and other benefits. The policy of North Arrow ABA is to ensure meaningful communication with LEP clients and their authorized representatives involving their medical conditions and treatment. We may use local organizations providing interpretation or translation services, or technology and telephonic interpretation services.
Why choose North Arrow?
—
01
Family Focused
We are community and family focused, taking into account the individual needs of parents and caregivers within their community.
02
Flexible
We meet families, caregivers, and educators of children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder where and when we are needed, with services from 8AM—8PM, seven days a week.
03
Empowering
Our interventions involve the entire family unit in your child’s treatment model from day one. We teach families to become their own child’s interventionists, addressing problem behavior with the least amount of effort necessary.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Company policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, gender, religion, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition including genetic characteristics, sexual orientation, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. It also prohibits unlawful discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics. All such discrimination is unlawful.