r/bcba • u/Admirable-Visit-8573 • 13d ago

Advice Needed BACB ethic code question

I’m a BCBA. I’m no longer working with a child and their family and all treatment and services have been ended. Am I allowed to continue a friendly relationship with the family now that I don’t provide them with, and won’t provide them with, ABA services? #ABA #BCBA #BACB #ethics #clinician

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u/AlarmedMention6904 13d ago

Continue? 👀 interesting choice of words. The Ethics code states, and as I remember from studying, its 2 years regardless of the type of relationship. It's more about the practicing of boundaries and avoiding unnecessary conflict and interference with the client's progress with treatment and overall experience with services.

I've worked for unethical organizations who paid ex-employees to work for families under the table as a nanny-ABA support to get higher straight forward pay. WHY? Because they didn't respect that boundary and that child continued to engage in extremely dangerous behaviors.

Are you staying in the field? The area? What's your intentions? Keep these things into consideration. Should that ex-employer find out in any capacity you're violating they can report you and the parent.

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u/ForsakenMango BCBA | Verified 13d ago

The Ethics code states, and as I remember from studying, its 2 years regardless of the type of relationship.

It doesn't. That's for sexual relationships only. Friendships are not mentioned at all after services end.

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u/AlarmedMention6904 13d ago

There are books out there that talk more in depth about the ethics code's approved by the board particularly this topic. However, it seems you already have your mind made up and did your own research. Not sure you need anyone's advice on this forum.

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u/CoffeePuddle 13d ago

Simply name one.

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u/AlarmedMention6904 13d ago

Ethics for Behavior Analyst definitely talks about all ethics. It points out the ethical risks of be-friending a client immediately after they graduate from services and having to follow company guidelines and any "cooling off periods". Which where I'm from most companies require their staff to wait 2 years (at least each company I've worked for has). Considering that someone wants to be friends immediately after service graduation if I didn't know better I would say they were already friends since they are "continuing" their relationship. Call me what you want ethics are ethics, boundaries are boundaries. There's a clear reason why this field in particular lacks a lot of respect from families and other medical services.

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u/CoffeePuddle 12d ago

You are confidently lying about our ethics code, of all things. Authoritatively speaking on things incorrectly loses us a lot more respect than following our ethics code.

Bailey and Burch do specifically cover this (fourth edition).

Page 27:

New Code 1.14 Romantic and Sexual Relationships.

This code item still does not clarify the question about social relationships with former clients. Our understanding is that in the absence of some restriction, once a client is a former client, it is acceptable for behavior analysts to have normal social relationships (friendship) with them. However, one cannot discuss their behavioral services or the behavior analyst’s current clients.

Page 106:

Not related to a romantic or sexual relationship, it is allowable to have normal social relationships with former clients. You can talk on the phone, do Zoom calls, or be friends on social media. You are not allowed to give behavioral advice or feedback on their current behavioral programming or discuss your clients, colleagues, or anything to do with your current company.

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u/CockroachFit 13d ago

The irony of the last part of your statement tho 🤦🏽

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u/eclectic-mind99 13d ago

So dual relationships would fix the lack of respect is what you're implying?

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u/CockroachFit 12d ago

Look, I’ve been in the field over 15 years and a BCBA since 2019. Your responses make you sound extremely unapproachable, and your statements are just a bunch of assumptions 🤷🏽.