Candidate Statement
Haydee Toro PhD, BCBA
Dear Colleagues:
Thank you for the nomination to serve a second term on the Behavior Analysis Certification Board. I would be privileged to continue in this capacity if elected. By way of introduction, I hold a doctoral degree in Psychology from the University of Vermont and was the recipient of a post-doctoral fellowship at the Kennedy Institute, Behavioral Psychology Department of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Throughout the last 22 years I have been involved in different capacities in the provision of services to populations presenting behavioral excesses and deficits and collaborating with their staff and caregivers.
- State of Florida Employee
I have worked over seventeen years as a civil servant for the State of Florida. In this role my work experiences have focused in institutional and community based behavior analysis services for individuals with developmental and psychiatric disabilities. I have contributed to the development of the Florida Behavior Analysis Rule and other policies and procedures pertinent to services offered to individuals with developmental disabilities funded by this State. Through my tenure I have come in contact with certificants with varying degrees of expertise. I have served as chairperson of behavior analysis peer review committees in my geographic area. This role, which is consistent with best practices in the field, has allowed me to be instrumental in rendering effective and ethical behavior analysis services to a broad population of recipients.
- Behavior Analysis Certification Exam
I have taught preparation courses for the Florida Behavior Analysis Certification exam, later for the Board Certification Exam. In the past I prepared question items for the Florida Certification Exam. I had the opportunity to participate in the development of the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities list for the Ethics Content Area of the Board Exam. Professional ethics is an area of personal interest. I have presented on this topic at the annual conferences of the Association for Behavior Analysis and the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis.
- Florida Association for Behavior Analysis
Several years ago, I was honored to serve as President of the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis. During my term we established at the annual conference sessions specifically tailored for families/parents of consumers to be offered at the annual conference. Paramount to our work is insuring that recipients of our service are provided sound clinical information and interventions.
In addition, I taught behavior analysis courses as adjunct faculty for four years at Florida International University, which is part of the state system of higher learning institutions. My professional experiences in a very culturally diverse geographic region have allowed me to understand well the social contingencies that directly and indirectly impact successful services within different ethnic backgrounds.
- Behavior Analyst Certification Board
During my current term with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board I have served on the nominations committee for the Hemingway Award. This award distinguishes a professional in the field for their contributions to the promotion and understanding of behavior analysis and their advocacy for consumers to access behavior analysis. Also, through this award the Board disseminates information about the work and attributes of colleagues that can serve as exemplary models to others in the field, particularly the recently trained and certified.
As a licensed Psychologist, I became involved in the 2006 legislative session in Florida. A bill was being filed in the House of Representatives and Senate prohibiting licensed psychologists to call themselves Board Certified Specialists or Diplomates, unless the American Psychology Board or the Florida Board of Psychology granted this certification. I had the unique opportunity to work with the Board, its lobbyist, other Board Certified Behavior Analysts in our state, legislators, legislative aides, the Florida Psychological Association and the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis to amend the language of the bill. As a result of this joint effort, licensed psychologists in Florida that possess the Board’s Behavior Analyst Certification can uphold both credentials. This allows consumers to identify psychology practitioners with the proper behavior analytic expertise.
I foresee myself involved with the Board in efforts related to collaboration with colleagues licensed in different disciplines. It is essential to minimize professional communication gaps and make highly visible the professional dimensions of behavior analysis in different forums. Also, I bring my bilingual skills, which can serve as outreach to international certificants whose primary language is Spanish. The international growth and interest in our certification has been remarkable, suggesting continued growth in other countries. I am reliable and committed to offer my services in any other aspect where I could contribute to the Board. Again, to be nominated for this seat is an honor and to continue working on behalf of the certificants and the consumers we serve is a humbling and enormous privilege.
Sincerely,
Haydee Toro, Ph.D., BCBA
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