This section provides definitions for terms used throughout Chapter 5240, which governs Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) agencies in Pennsylvania. Key terms defined include ABA, ASD, evidence-based therapy (EBT), individual treatment plan (ITP), restrictive procedures, and various staff certifications (BCBA, BCaBA, RBT, BCAT). Operators of IBHS agencies must understand these definitions as they establish the foundational terminology for all compliance requirements in the chapter, including ABA services delivered to children, youth, and young adults.
View official source55 Pa. Code § 5240.2 - Definitions State Regulations Compare The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: ABA-Applied behavior analysis -The design, implementation and evaluation of environmental modifications, using behavioral stimuli and consequences, to produce socially significant improvement in human behavior or to prevent loss of attained skill or function including the use of direct observation, measurement and functional analysis of the relations between environment and behavior. ASD-Autism spectrum disorder -A pervasive neuro-developmental disorder present from early childhood that involves maladaptive or restrictive behaviors, impairments in communication, and impairments in social interactions and relationships as described in the diagnostic criteria in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders . Aversive conditioning -The application of startling, painful or noxious stimuli. BCaBA certification-Board-certified assistant behavior analyst certification -An undergraduate-level certification by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. BCAT certification-Board-certified autism technician certification -A certification by the Behavioral Intervention Certification Council. BCBA certification-Board-certified behavior analyst certification -A graduate-level certification by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. BCBA refers to both master's (BCBA) and doctoral level credentials (BCBA-D). BHT -Behavioral health technician. BHT-ABA -Behavioral health technician-applied behavior analysis. Caregiver -An individual with responsibility for the care and supervision of a child, youth or young adult. Chemical restraint -The administration of a drug that has a temporary effect of restricting the child's, youth's or young adult's freedom of movement that is used to manage a child's, youth's or young adult's behavior and reduce a risk to the safety of the child, youth, young adult or others. Chemical restraint does not include standard treatment for the child's, youth's or young adult's medical or physical condition. Child -A person under 14 years of age. Community like setting -A setting that simulates a natural or normal setting for a child, youth or young adult. Department -The Department of Human Services of the Commonwealth. EBT-Evidence-based therapy -Behavioral health therapy that uses scientifically established behavioral health interventions and meets one of the following: (i) Categorized as effective by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in the Evidence-Based Practice Resource Center. (ii) Categorized as Model or Model Plus in the Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development registry. (iii) Categorized as well-established by the American Psychological Association's Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. (iv) Rated as having positive effects by the Institute of Education Sciences' What Works Clearinghouse. Formal support -An agency, organization or person that provides assistance or resources to a child, youth or young adult within the context of an official role. Full-time equivalent -37.5 hours per week of staff time. Group services -Therapeutic interventions provided primarily in a group format through psychotherapy; structured activities, including ABA services; and community integration activities that address a child's, youth's or young adult's identified treatment needs. IBHS-Intensive behavioral health services -An array of therapeutic interventions and supports provided to a child, youth or young adult in the home, school or other community setting. IBHS agency -An entity that provides one or more IBHS. ITP-Individual treatment plan -A detailed written plan of treatment services specifically tailored to address a child's, youth's or young adult's therapeutic needs that contains the type, amount, frequency, setting and duration of services to be provided and the specific goals, objectives and interventions for the service. Individual services -Intensive therapeutic interventions and supports that are used to reduce and manage identified therapeutic needs, increase coping strategies and support skill development to promote positive behaviors with the goal of stabilizing, maintaining or maximizing functioning of a child, youth or young adult in the home, school or other community setting. Initiation of service -The first day an individual service, ABA service or group service is provided. This includes the first day an assessment is conducted. Manual restraint -A physical hands-on technique that restricts the movement or function of a child, youth or young adult, or a portion of a child's, youth's or young adult's body. A manual restraint does not include the use of hands-on assistance needed to enable a child, youth or young adult to achieve a goal or objective identified in an ITP. Mechanical restraint -The use of a device attached or adjacent to a child's, youth's or young adult's body that restricts freedom of movement or normal access to the child's, youth's or young adult's body which cannot easily be removed by the child, youth or young adult. A mechanical restraint does not include the use of a seat belt during movement or transportation or a device prescribed by a licensed medical professional. Mental health direct service -Service that involves working directly with a child, youth or young adult to provide mental health treatment. Natural support -An agency, organization or person that provides support to a child, youth or young adult in a personal or nonprofessional role. Pressure-point technique -The application of pain for the purpose of achieving compliance. A pressure-point technique does not include a clinically-accepted bite release technique that is applied only to release a bite. RBT certification-Registered behavior technician certification -A certification by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. Restrictive procedure -A practice that limits or restricts a child's, youth's or young adult's freedom of movement, activity or function. Seclusion -The involuntary confinement of a child, youth or young adult alone in a room or an area from which the child, youth or young adult is physically prevented from leaving. Staff -Any individual, including an independent contractor or consultant, who works for an IBHS agency. Systems of care principles -Guiding philosophies that form the essential elements of a coordinated network of community-based services and supports that is organized to meet the challenges of children, youth and young adults with serious mental health needs and their families that is family-driven and youth-guided and includes interagency collaboration, individualized strengths-based care, cultural and linguistic competence, community-based services and accountability. Trauma -The result of an event, series of events or set of circumstances that is experienced by a child, youth or young adult as physically or emotionally harmful or threatening and that has lasting effects on the child's, youth's or young adult's functioning and physical, social, emotional or spiritual well-being. Trauma-informed approach -An approach that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma including the signs and symptoms of trauma and potential paths for recovery by integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures and practices that avoids retraumatization. Treatment team -Individuals involved in a child's, youth's or young adult's treatment. Members of the treatment team may include the child, youth, young adult, parents, legal guardians, caregivers, teachers, individuals who provide services and any individual chosen by the child, youth, young adult or parents or legal guardians of the child or youth to be part of the treatment team. Young adult -A person 18 years of age or older but under 21 years of age. Youth -A person 14 years of age or older but under 18 years of age. Notes 55 Pa. Code § 5240.2 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare. No prior version found. State Regulations Toolbox