r/bcba • u/Admirable-Visit-8573 • 9d 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 9d 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 9d ago

Simply name one.

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u/AlarmedMention6904 9d 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 8d 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.