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Staff
and training
Autism Partnership
prides itself on its high professional training standards.
It is committed to on-going training and supervision for
all staff.
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Directors
Ron Leaf
Co-Director of Autism Partnership
Ron Leaf is a licensed psychologist who has over twenty-five
years of experience in the field of autism. Dr. Leaf began
his career working with Ivar Lovaas, while receiving his
undergraduate degree at UCLA. Subsequently he received his
doctorate under the direction of Dr. Lovaas. During his professional
training at UCLA, he served as Clinic Supervisor, Research
Psychologist, Lecturer, and Interim Director of the Young
Autism Project. He was extensively involved in many of the
Young Autism Project research investigations, contributed
to The Me Book, and is co-author of The Me Book Videotapes,
a series of instructional tapes offering training for teaching
autistic children. He is co-author of A Work in Progress,
a manual on behavioral treatment. Dr. Leaf has consulted
nationally and internationally to families, school districts,
day programs and residential treatment facilities. Dr. Leaf
served as the Director of Straight Talk's Developmental Disabilities
Services division for 15 years. This program provided residential
and day treatment for adults with developmental disabilities.
Dr. Leaf is also the Executive Director of Behavior Therapy
and Learning Center, a mental health agency providing treatment,
consultation and related services to parents, program staff
and school personnel.
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John McEachin
Co-Director of Autism Partnership
John McEachin is a licensed psychologist who has been providing
behavioral intervention to children with autism as well as
adolescents and adults with a wide range of developmental
disabilities for more than 20 years. He received his graduate
training under Professor Ivar Lovaas at UCLA on the Young
Autism Project. During his 11 years at UCLA, Dr. McEachin
served in various roles including Clinic Supervisor, Research
and Teaching Assistant, Visiting Professor and Acting Director.
His research has included the long-term follow-up study of
young autistic children who received intensive behavioral
treatment, which was published in 1993. Since receiving his
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1987 his work has included
serving as Clinical Director of Developmental Disabilities
Services, a division of Straight Talk in Signal Hill, California.
Dr. McEachin has lectured throughout the world and consulted
to numerous families and agencies, assisting in the development
of treatment programs and providing training to parents,
group home staff, and classroom personnel. In 1994 he joined
with Ron Leaf in forming Autism Partnership, which they co-direct.
They have recently co-authored a book on behavioral intervention
for persons with autism, titled A Work in Progress.
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Supervisors
Our 8 supervisors have 7 – 13 years experience
working with AP and implementing CBT programs. They
have been extensively trained in Los Angeles as well
as Hong Kong. Every year they attend further training
in our Los Angeles offices to update and improve their
already extensive skills.
AP's founders, Dr. Ron Leaf and Dr.
John McEachin,
regularly visit Hong Kong to provide training and
consultation to the supervisors and senior level
staff. Supervisors are required to attend the annual
AP International Week in the L.A. main office, where
they attend presentations from a variety of guest
speakers as well as further training from PhD level
consultants.
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Direct
line staff
Intensive training is provided for all the new staff
before they individually work with children. During the
intensive training, they learn about the application
of CBT in the form of didactic and practical sessions.
Training topics included: how to conduct individual and
group treatment sessions, monitor student progress, and
implementation of curriculum. In addition to intensive
training, our staff receive on-going training in the
form of regular supervision. All staff attend monthly
staff training to further enhance their knowledge and
skills.
Our direct line staff is extensively trained in CBT
and receives over 400 hours of 1:1 supervised experience
in their first year. After the first year staff continue
to receive over 150 hours of training per year. We
have one full time dedicated staff in our offices to
oversee the training needs of new and current staff
members. Our staff also attends monthly trainings once
per month for half a day. And our office is also visited
by Dr Ronald Leaf, Dr Mitch Taubman and Dr John Mceachin
every year to provide ongoing training for all our
staff.
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