BCBSRI is sponsoring an initiative offered by The Verrecchia Clinic at Bradley Hospital to provide training and support for up to 25 clinicians interested in delivering adapted therapy techniques for children and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities.

Why are we doing this program?

Children and youth with ASD and other developmental disabilities often experience concurrent mental health issues. While current evidence-based interventions, (such as CBT, mindfulness, and other behavior-based treatments), have proven to be effective for neurotypical children, they may not lead to desired treatment outcomes for neurodiverse populations unless adapted. In this training, clinicians will gain the expertise to modify, accommodate, and implement these interventions successfully and account for the unique needs associated with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. 

Clinician Eligibility for Participation

• Must be an independently licensed behavioral health specialist (e.g. PhD, PsyD, LICSW, LMFT, LMHC)
• Must be a participating, credentialed provider in the network of BCBSRI
• Must be committed to fully participate in 2-day workshop, engage in all aspects of the training program and implement treatment strategies addressed
• Must work with a patient caseload that includes a significant portion of children and/or adolescent clients

Training Information & Requirements 

This program is a one and a half-year commitment supporting initial training and ongoing case consultation in delivering adapted therapy techniques in treating children with ASD and comorbid mental health issues. Participation in all phases of this program is required as outlined below: 

• Attend Workshop Day 1 (Location: Your Blue Store, 1400 Oakland Ave., Cranston, RI, 02920): Thursday, September 5, 2024, 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM
• Attend Workshop Day 2 (Location: Your Blue Store, 1400 Oakland Ave., Cranston, RI, 02920): Friday, September 6, 2024, 8:30 – 12:30 PM
• Participate in ongoing group case consultation via Zoom: Twice a month for 1 year, Monthly for 6 months; Consultation times will be Tuesdays from 1-2pm; Also includes quarterly presentations on topic of interest as a part of the 1-hour group case consultation throughout the program. 
• Commitment to using adapted therapy techniques in treating children and youth with ASD and comorbid mental health issues. 
• Completion of brief surveys prior to and after trainings as well as group case consultations
• Completion of fidelity checklists after therapy sessions

Certification & Incentives

• Rhode Island Continuing Education Credits will be offered (in process) for completed workshop and quarterly presentations. 
• A stipend of $100 per hour will be provided by BCBSRI for completed workshop and completed group case consultation hours. 

To access the application, use the QR code, or use this link by copying and pasting it into your browser: https://forms.office.com/r/4FFJtTCDXv or print out the application and submit to: kknappines@lifespan.org. 

All applications are due by Friday, July 19th at 5:00 PM EST. Applicants selected for this training program will be notified by Friday, August 2nd, 2024.