About Jonathan Stevens
I’m currently working to complete my Master’s in ABA, while working as a Clinical Site Coordinator for a growing behavioral health company. This work includes overseeing clinics, marketing & social media, project management (community & team projects), designing templates, report writing, staff training, working with group homes and adult residential facilities, and special projects assigned by the Executive Clinical Director.
My other work includes behavioral consulting, primarily consists of working with private businesses to implement Organizational Behavior interventions, with Churches to design scripturally appropriate and sound behavioral interventions for youth programs (and crisis intervention when necessary), with BCBA’s on report writing, program design, & copywriting, and with individuals on behavioral deficits (e.g., anxiety, depression). Additionally, I am currently working on several book projects.
Quick and Brief Work History
South Chicago Neighborhood House – Assistant Director
I helped run an after-school program, which worked with at-risk children and adolescents, in the Chicago neighborhood called The Bush. The South Chicago Neighborhood House (lovingly referred to as “the Hood”) has been around for more than 100 years (built in 1911). It has closed and reopened several times, most recently being owned by Ada S. McKinley Community Services, and last reopened by community efforts. My mother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and brother all spent time there growing up, and I enjoyed every minute of keeping this community landmark and treasure active. Unfortunately, the Hood has been permanently closed since 2013.
ECHO Joint Agreement – Certified Substitute Teacher
I was part of a special education substitute teacher pool. After working a long-term assignment with the behavioral team for the campus that services Pre-K to Post-High School students, I became interested in Applied Behavior Analysis. The primary programs I worked with were, Adaptive Behavioral Learning Environment Program (ABLE), Academy For Learning (AFL), Providing Alternatives For Continuing Education (PACE), and Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH).
Programs included the use of Positive Behavioral Intervention Strategies (PBIS) and working with disabilities with a primary classification of moderate to profound Intellectual disability, primarily with needs in the areas of verbal and nonverbal communication, social interactions, sensory processing/regulation, and academic progress.
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP)-
MS Program in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) & BCBA Intern
While working towards my degree I was a BCBA Intern for two different ABA companies (Trinity Services & Julie and Michael Tracy Family Foundation), which taught me how to design programming for individual people, with the freedom of working on any behavior or skill I could behaviorally support. While attending TCSPP I completed my coursework, which included the following:
– Advanced Intervention
– Assessment and Intervention
– Clinical & Diagnostic Interviewing
– Diversity in Clinical Psychology
– Drugs and Behavior
– Human Sexuality
– Behavior Analysis of Human Sexuality: Research and Practice Issues
– Experimental Analysis of Behavior
– Neuroscience Motivating Behavior
– Personality Testing
– Psychology of Death and Dying
– Relational Frame Theory
– Science and Human Behavior
– Social Psychology of Marriage
– Verbal Behavior
California Behavior Analysis –
Behavioral Health Consultant, Clinical Site Coordinator
After leaving Chicago I began working for behavioral health companies in Southern California, working my way up from an interventionist and supervisor, to multiple coordinator positions. My experiences in both Chicago and Southern California taught me many of the skills that make me a well-regarded consultant; including a focus on parent & staff training, how to effectively incorporate other professionals within my program designs, and writing reports that thoroughly address the needs of various funding sources across the country.
Consulting Projects
I’m often asked for tips on writing effective interventions, and I tell people that the best way to design socially appropriate goals for special needs youth is to also work with typically functioning youth. Social norms change subtly with each generation, and if you don’t stay up-to-date with them, you can’t design socially appropriate program goals.
My work has extended to service projects with my church, coaching sports teams, and working as crisis support for at-risk youth. Additionally, I maintain an active substitute teacher license, allowing me to work with youth of all ages, both special needs and typically functioning.
StevensBx ABA Blog 