Bridging Social Work and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA): The Five-Day Training Program - a Person-in-Environment & Cultural Competence Focus

It is a comprehensive training initiative aimed at equipping social workers with essential Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) skills while emphasizing cultural competence and person-in-environment perspectives. The program meticulously aligns with the proposed objectives, ensuring thorough integration of ABA principles, curriculum content, and interactive teaching methodologies. The program addresses diverse backgrounds, experiences, and identities, recognizing the critical role of cultural competence in client engagement and aligning with principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Intersectionality, Power, and Anti-Racism (DEIPAR). Through immersive learning experiences, participants delve into ABA techniques, fostering a deeper understanding of behavior analysis and its application in social work practice. While the program's condensed duration presents challenges, including ongoing learning opportunities, various research highlights the need for adequate training programs to narrow the knowledge disparity in ABA among social workers and bolster confidence in implementing ABA principles. Moving forward, future iterations aim to expand the program's framework, incorporating extended formats and deeper exploration of ABA principles to further enhance participants' skills and efficacy in diverse real-world settings.