Step One: First Contact and Clinical Consultation
Families can inquire about beginning ABA therapy at IMPACT by calling us at 920.395.2105. Each family who contacts us will be guided through the enrollment process.
Every family who is interested in services at IMPACT can speak with our Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) to learn more about ABA therapy, and what it might look like for their child. Our goal is to help families find the best therapeutic match for their child, so this initial conversation is designed to help us learn more about one another.
At IMPACT, we best help families when we have a full picture of their child. This may mean asking questions about behavior, health history, development, skill acquisition, strengths and interests. The more honest parents are about their concerns, the more likely we can help them find the right fit for their child going forward.
We also serve as a resource for the families who contact us. Common questions parents often have for our BCBAs at this stage include:
Step Two: Benefits Verification and Financial Consultation
ABA is the most successful form of autism therapy. It is approved by the United States Surgeon General and covered by insurance in Wisconsin in which IMPACT is located. We offer complimentary insurance verification for families to find out the extent of their benefits for ABA services, including copay and deductible amounts. IMPACT is in-network with several of the major commercial insurance carriers such as: Anthem, UHC, UMR, WEA and Medicaid.
Step Four: Enrollment Paperwork
After families complete initial paperwork. This includes consent for services, allergy and general health information, medication authorization and exchange of information permission (for example, with teachers or physicians).
At this point, a BCBA at IMPACT also provides parents with a handbook and client rights information. Parents and the BCBA review and finalize paperwork at a meeting before beginning ABA therapy.
Step Five: Assessment
Assessment is the final step of the intake process and the first clinical visit. This is an opportunity for our experienced BCBA to assess the current level of a child’s skills across multiple areas and gather baseline data on behavior.
The assessment may take two to four hours, may take place over the course of two separate sessions, and can be conducted in the family’s home or at IMPACT's center. Parents are very involved in this process, and they often attend sessions to help their child demonstrate skills, or to help the clinician set up the most common conditions under which a certain behavior occurs.
Our BCBA uses this time to gain comprehensive knowledge about the child they will be working with, such as their language and communication, adaptive functioning and social skills. Their goal is to target areas for teaching.
After the assessment is completed, our BCBA determines a treatment plan and outline goals for therapy. This plan, along with a therapy schedule, is finalized with parents and then submitted to their insurance carrier for pre-authorization. Their child is then ready to begin services and start making strides towards success.
Step Six: Ready to start ABA therapy
The child is now ready to begin ABA therapy at IMPACT. The family and BCBA will schedule meeting times for one or two follow-up assessment meetings to gather any additional baseline data and run a trial session.
Depending on clinical capacity, the family may be placed on a wait list. In this case, the average wait time depends on individual specifics such as the times of day therapy will be held, staffing, etc. If the wait time is over 1 month, families will be provided with a packet of information of things they can do while they wait for services.
Contact us with questions about beginning ABA therapy at IMPACT.