Meet Briana. She’s one of our amazing BCBAs impacting Region 1.  Learn more about this unique program and the importance of systems change work in this Q&A.

Q: What training has prepared you to work with young children with autism and/or other developmental disabilities?

A: Since 1994, I worked with children and adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental Disabilities, and Mental Illness. I received onsite training in these work experiences and training at the university level in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis.

Q: What brings you joy during the work day? When you’re not working?

A: At work, my joy is seeing a client overcome challenges and live better. I enjoy collaborating with clinicians and community service providers in effort to provide the best care for children. When I am not working, I enjoy learning, gardening, hiking, and swimming.

Q: Why do you enjoy working at CA?

A: I enjoy the opportunity to influence lasting systems change in organizations within the community.

Q: Describe the impact you have on your clients (those being served by partners or our partners).

A: Systems change influences the technical expertise of an organization in relation to the assessment and treatment of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental Disabilities, and Mental Illness. When CA staff provide technical support and training to mental health clinicians, this leads to an increase in clinician knowledge and skill. Greater clinician knowledge and skill leads to earlier identification of various diagnoses, assessment of skills and barriers to treatment, and understanding of evidence based practices for intervention. Systems change within partnerships leads to increased efficacy, quality, and efficiency of service provision related to the care of children.

Q: How are these services different from what other professionals are doing to serve the community?

A: CA Human Services staff collaborate, train, and provide coaching to staff among community based service providers in effort to influence large scale systems change within existing organizations. Often other service providers are solely focused on making changes within their organization and in making changes with clients by providing individualized services.

Q: What is your hope for the counties you’re serving? What excites you about their future?

A: The Child Regional Education Assessment Crisis Services Habilitation (REACH) program within Health Planning Region 1 (HPR-1) serves children diagnosed with Developmental Disabilities and co-occurring Mental Illness experiencing crises. HPR-1 includes a service area consisting of counties within Northwestern Piedmont and Shenandoah Valley areas. It is my hope that through collaboration with Child REACH and multiple community based service providers, we can influence the direction of immediate care for countless children diagnosed with special needs who are experiencing crises. Within HPR-1, I am excited about the increased recognition of the need for quality care for children diagnosed with Developmental Disabilities and co-occurring Mental Illness. I am also excited about the increased collaboration among multiple community service providers including schools, hospitals, and mental health facilities.

Q: What do you want prospective clients and the families/students/teachers they serve to know?

A: The Child Regional Education Assessment Crisis Service Habilitation (REACH) Program within Health Planning Region 1 (HPR-1) is an amazing resource to help children diagnosed with Developmental Disabilities and co-occurring Mental Illness who are ages 17 and under and are in need of crisis services. Services include crisis supports in the home, school, and community settings and prevention services to assist a family after a crisis stabilizes. The 24/7 REACH Crisis Line phone number for HPR-1 is 1-888-908-0486

Ready to learn more?  Call or email Courtney Vaughan – 804-355-0300 [email protected]