Internal Initiatives

In 2017, after surveying membership, AzABA established Special Interest Groups to give members more opportunity to network and further education with those in similar interest areas.

The AzABA Ethics Portal was launched in 2018 so members could anonymously submit ethical dilemmas. The Ethics Committee established process for distributing replies to membership.

2020 was a big year internally, when AzABA expanded outreach to students and RBTs through virtual events which lead to an increase in membership. Additionally, the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee was established to address representation and inclusive practice resources. We began DEI assessments of the organization to identify ways to increase focus on equity, diversity and inclusion.

Events & Conferences

In 2016, AzABA hosted the first Autism Expo in February and partnered with the Arizona Autism Coalition for a joint event at Ability360 in October.

The AzABA 2017 Year-End Conference featured Dr. Jim Carr and the ABAI President.

AzABA held the 2018 Year-End Conference at Ability 360. This was the first conference to include exhibit tables and the last at Ability 360 due to the growth of the event.

The 2019 Year-End Conference was expanded to a two-day event with workshops held at the Phoenix Public Library on the first day and sessions held at Desert Willow Conference Center the next day.

In 2020, AzABA transitioned the Annual Conference (renamed from Year-End Conference) and monthly CEU events to virtual formats, offering sessions on telehealth, ethics, and supervision. AzABA also created an Out of State membership type to expand our reach.

Public Policy

By July 2016, Medicaid plans began covering ABA codes. AzABA also advanced legislation to require the Behavior Analyst Committee under the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners.

In 2018, AzABA advocated for the addition of two BCBAs to the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners (BoPE) and provided endorsements for the candidates.

AzABA supported the implementation of Arizona behavior analyst licensure following HB2704 enactment, provided member guidance, and advocated for telehealth reimbursement and guidance during the COVID-19 public health emergency in 2020.

Community & Partnerships

In 2017, AzABA participated in the first Behavior Analyst Committee (CoBA) meetings, supporting its role in state regulation.

In 2020, AzABA created COVID-19 reopening guidance for providers in Arizona, including safety protocols and PPE sourcing suggestions that were shared with the community. We worked with the Arizona Department of Education and early intervention programs to ensure continuity of care.

National Trends Addressed

In 2020, AzABA responded to BACB telehealth guidance and national dialogue on remote supervision and service delivery.

Internal Initiatives

In 2021, AzABA continued the development of the EDI Committee, establishing subcommittees and vision for the committee. The internship program for students and RBTs was established to expand their professional development and receive mentorship through participation in board activities.

In 2022, AzABA updated technologies to increase accessibility including enhancements to the AzABA website and use of transcription software during CEU events. The annual budget for speaker fees was significantly increased and we established standard speaker rate to encourage investment in quality education events for members. AzABA invested in a facilitated strategic planning session to better aid in long term planning.

In 2023, the AzABA website was rebranded and moved to a new platform to increase efficiency in updates, align with AzABA branding and improve functionality for members. AzABA established a decision matrix for approval of public statements issued on behalf of the association.

2024 was an integral year for internal processes and goals, with board members doing an in depth review and revision of the bylaws for clarity and taking in account growth of the association. Through this process, the bylaws were reviewed by the EDI committee to ensure wording did not include biases. AzABA also formalized the Policies and Procedures manual.

In 2025, the board researched and developed this historical timeline and continued to develop processes and curriculum to prepare members for leadership in AzABA.

Events & Conferences

The 2021 Annual Conference was hosted for the first time over two days at the same venue and as a hybrid event. Sessions had a focus on trauma-informed ABA, cultural responsiveness, and telehealth adaptation.

AzABA decided to continue to host the 2022 Annual Conference as a hybrid event to not only increase accessibility but to also allow members to participate based on level of comfortability in public amid health concerns. Additionally, we increased the number of virtual and hybrid CEU events.

The 2023 Annual Conference was held in a hybrid format with increased opportunities for sponsorship and participation by students and RBTs.

A big change took place in 2024, with the Annual Conference being held at a hotel for the first time which greatly increased the attendance capacity. Additionally, we began partnership with Behavior Live to increase efficiency in CEU processing.

Planning is underway for the 2025 Annual Conference to be held for the second time at Wild Horse Pass hotel and through Behavior Live.

Public Policy

Through 2021, AzABA continued supporting licensure implementation, engaged Medicaid/ALTCS conversations to improve ABA coverage in rural areas, and advocated for telehealth parity.

In 2022, we continued advocacy around reimbursement, licensure implementation, and payer policy changes related to telehealth and resumption of in person services. AzABA published a CESS Position Statement and created a resource hub for members on current requirements and laws.

AzABA established a partnership with lobbying company Goodman Schwartz in 2023 to aid in education of legislators about needs of ABA providers. We launched a campaign to advocate for establishment of regulatory licensing board specific to behavior analysts.

In 2024, AzABA drafted and released several updates to members on policies including those on the Regulatory Board, ABA Crosswalk Tool for use with health plans, Optum Insurance and statement on licensure delays in partnership with the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners.

Community & Partnerships

In 2021, AzABA collaborated with state autism councils and led public awareness campaigns during Autism Awareness Month. We also launched a 'Licensure Toolkit' to help members through state licensure steps (template letters, timeline, documentation checklist).

The board approved ongoing partnership and support of BABA through sponsorship of student scholarships in 2022.

In 2024, AzABA established an Outreach Committee to identify opportunities for membership growth, maximization of member benefits and partnerships within the industry and community.

An endowment fund was established through Arizona State University in 2025 to provide scholarships to masters level students in the ABA program.

National Trends Addressed

AzABA communicated the 2021 national supervisor guidance updates from the BACB and provided crisis-adapted practice resources for remote supervision.

AzABA hosted a CESS Town Hall for members to discuss the use of Contingent Electric Skin Shock (CESS) and AzABA’s professional stance in 2022. We also continued addressing DEI and post-pandemic service delivery trends through conversations with other state and professional organizations.

In 2023, AzABA issued public agreement with the Arizona Psychological Association statement regarding Reproductive Rights after the overturn of Roe vs. Wade.

Throughout 2025, AzABA educated members on bills affecting practice in Arizona including HB2027 and HB2226. We continued partnership with Board of Psychologist Examiners to release statement on licensure exemption and published AzABA response to public statements by the HHS Secretary.