Each week I interview an ABA company that treats its BCBAs well, then share what I find. This week I talked with Judah Edelstein, the founder of Ahead ABA in Rockville, Maryland.
Ahead ABA is about a year old. Judah runs the operations side, and he’s quick to say he leans on his clinical director for the clinical decisions. They do in-home therapy in Maryland. I wanted to talk with him because a brand-new company gets to decide what kind of employer it will be from the very first hire, and Judah has clear ideas about that.
He put it simply. “We’re trying to do something unique, which shouldn’t be unique. We went from the perspective of what the client needs and worked backwards from there.”
It starts with the RBTs
Most companies treat the RBT as an entry-level seat to fill. Judah built his model around them instead. New RBTs go through a six-week training program with a partner company, not just a rushed 40-hour course. He looks for people who already have a year or two in the field and want to become BCBAs. He pays more for that kind of hire.
The reasoning is straightforward. A better-trained, better-supported RBT gives the client better care. And it makes the BCBA’s job easier, because they’re supervising people who know what they’re doing.
You can speak up without going through your boss
Ahead ABA runs skip-level check-ins. Your BCBA checks in with you, and so does someone above them. If you ever have a problem with your direct supervisor, there’s a clear path to raise it with someone else. The check-ins are scheduled, not just reactions to something going wrong.
Teams stay small on purpose. A lead BCBA runs a small pod of junior clinicians, almost like their own little practice inside the company. And because Ahead ABA is still young, Judah wants input from everyone. He told me he likes to ask BCBAs and RBTs what they struggled with at past jobs, so he knows what to avoid building.
Where they’re headed, and who they need
Judah is honest that he’s an operations person, not a clinician. He defers to his clinical director on clinical calls, which means the person who leads clinically actually gets to lead. He’s also honest that as the company grows, he plans to bring in more seasoned people, including above himself.
The goal over the next few years is to reach four states and around 500 clients. Right now the company needs a lead BCBA with five to eight years of experience to head up a pod of junior clinicians. If you want to help shape a company while it’s still small enough to shape, this is that kind of spot.
“We’re trying to do something unique, which shouldn’t be unique. We went from the perspective of what the client needs and worked backwards from there.”
— Judah Edelstein, Founder of Ahead ABA
At a glance
- Settings: in-home therapy, based in Rockville, MD
- Location: Maryland
- Hiring status: hiring a lead BCBA plus junior BCBA roles
- Notable perk: skip-level check-ins and small clinician pods
If that sounds like your kind of practice, take a look at aheadaba.com to see their team and their openings.
Do you run an ABA company that treats its BCBAs well? Reply to any Book Club email and tell me about it. I’d love to hear the story.
This is not a paid placement. I interviewed this company myself and receive no compensation for featuring them.