Who do I contact to inquire about services?

• Contact the program coordinators at 856-810-7599 ext 108 (Linwood Office) or ext 117 (Marlton Office) or email inquiries@interactivekids.com.

What is ABA?

• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a therapy based on the science of learning and behavior. ABA therapy applies our understanding of how behavior works to real situations. The goal is to increase behaviors that are helpful and decrease behaviors that are harmful or affect learning. The methods of behavior analysis have been used and studied for decades. They have helped many kinds of learners gain different skills – from healthier lifestyles to learning a new language. Therapists have used ABA to help children with autism and related developmental disorders since the 1960s.

What is an FBA?

• A functional behavioral assessment (FBA) is a process for gathering information about behaviors of concern, whether the behaviors are academic, social or emotional.
• FBAs are rooted in the theory that behavior is functional (meaning it has a purpose), predictable and changeable. Understanding the function or purpose underlying a student’s behavior can help a behavior team develop a plan to teach the child more appropriate replacement behaviors for a setting or provide support for the development of more desirable behaviors.

Where can I get my child evaluated for Autism?

• Before children can begin an ABA therapy program, they must receive an official autism diagnosis. A neurologist, behavioral pediatrician, developmental pediatrician, psychiatrist, and some clinical psychologists, can provide an official diagnosis.
• An autism evaluation process includes client observation, client interviews, cognitive and language ability tests, and interviews with parents, teachers, caregivers, or other adults.

My child just got diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, now what?

• Take deep breaths.  You are not alone.  As per the CDC in 2020, 1 in 35 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (A Snapshot of Autism Spectrum Disorder in New Jersey | Autism | NCBDDD | CDC).  

• Take the time to read through the evaluation from your doctor and consider their written recommendations.  Doing research on your own will help you find the best interventions to begin with for you and your family.  As of today, ABA is still the gold standard for individuals with ASD, and it is at the crux of our services.   

• The Department of Children and Families (DCF), Children’s System of Care (CSOC) offers a wide range of services for children up to age 21 with behavioral health, substance use, or developmental disability needs. To provide access, DCF contracts with PerformCare which is a private entity that administers this service system. 24-hour, toll-free Access Line at: 1-877-652-7624 

• If a child is under the age of 3, contact the New Jersey Early Intervention System at 888-653-4463. Staff there will assess your child and provide appropriate intervention services. 

• Seek out a support system, within your immediate family and outside of your immediate family.  Start with social media; Facebook has tons on parent groups dedicated to creating a strong community for parents of children with ASD and other developmental challenges. 

What does the intake process look like?

• • Complete an application and upload required documents outlined in the application.
  • Following completion of the application, you will be immediately placed on the departments waitlist and the program coordinator or designee will contact you within 10 business days from submission to discuss services, funding options and waitlist timeframe.  

What are the differences between center-based and in-home services?

• Center based services take place at one of our offices.  Your child is brought to our office at the pre-arranged day/time by you.  Drop off procedures vary by department/location.  Center based services may involve 1:1 support or are small group, depending on service and support need.  In home services occur typically in the child’s home, but may also occur in the community.  Some client’s are supported by both center based and in home services.  

What parent support do you offer for families?

• We love to collaborate with families! Our goal is to help our clients learn the skills to be as independent as possible – but they need parent support to make this happen.  Our consultants are in regular communication with parents to review treatment updates, discuss changes, and for parent training. 

Do your Behavior Consultants collaborate with schools and other providers?

• Collaboration is an essential piece of ABA therapy to ensure consistency, and generalization of behaviors.

Do you provide Speech therapy, occupational therapy , and/or physical therapy.

• Interactive Kids does not currently provide these services. Although we may be able to provide recommendations to individuals and their families. Contact your insurance provider for specific information.

What are the expectations for parents with children attending services at Interactive Kids?

• Check with each department to ensure you have an updated parent handbook. Here are some general guidelines for parents.
  • Consistency in Implementing Strategies: We expect our parents to consistently implement the strategies and techniques taught during therapy sessions at home and in other settings. Consistency helps reinforce learning and behavior changes.
  • Active Participation in Treatment: We often expect our parents to actively participate in their child’s therapy by attending sessions, observing, and participating in training sessions. This active involvement helps parents better understand and support their child’s needs. In addition, insurance providers require parent training sessions to continue services. If these sessions do not occur, it can result in a delay in treatment.
  • Reinforcement of Skills: Our parents are typically expected to continue reinforcing and practicing the skills and strategies taught during ABA therapy in everyday situations. Consistent practice is crucial for skill generalization and long-term success.
  • Commitment to the Treatment Plan: We expect our parents to be committed to the prescribed treatment plan and to follow through with recommended interventions and strategies, even if they require time and effort. A strong commitment from parents can significantly impact the success of the ABA therapy.
• These expectations are designed to create a collaborative and supportive partnership between the ABA clinic and parents, with the ultimate goal of helping the child achieve their developmental and behavioral goals.

Do you accept health insurance?

• Yes, we are currently in-network to provide ABA services to individuals with a diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder.  We are currently in-network with Horizon BCBS, Horizon NJ Health, Cigna, Aetna, Independence Blue Cross, Keystone, and AmeriHealth.
• This list is updated frequently , please call the office to obtain our most up to date list. 
• Please contact your insurance to verify you have the ABA benefits and any limitations to your benefits such as age. 

Do you accept funding through Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)?

• The Adult department is not an approved Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Day Habilitation Provider, however, there are options for funding through Goods and Services to attend our classes. Please contact your support coordination agency regarding Good and Services funding options.

How do I pay my copays?

• Any applicable deductible , copay, or coinsurance will apply on dates of service. Invoices are emailed monthly for families financial responsibility with a link provided to pay online.

Does my insurance cover Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)?

• Currently, most health plans cover ABA services. ABA is only covered with a formal Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis, and the majority of health plans require pre-certification. Authorizations are approved for a 3 to 6-month time period based on medical necessity, and are reviewed and determined by insurance care-managers.

What does the insurance process look like?

• First, reach out to your insurance provider to inquire about your ABA benefit, copays, deductibles, any other out of pocket costs, and age restrictions related to coverage. 
• Reach out to program coordinator at Interactive Kids to begin application process. 
• After submitting an application for ABA services at Interactive Kids , your application will be reviewed within 10 days , and your program coordinator will reach out regarding status of services.  

What assessments does Early ABA use to inform their practice?

• The initial parent interview guides us in selecting the appropriate assessments for each client. Common assessments we use are VBMAPP milestones, VBMAPP barriers, ABAS-3, ESDM, Essentials for Living and functional behavior assessments. There are a variety of programs and interventions we use to address the needs identified through these assessments. 

How long will ABA will last/how soon will I notice a difference in my child?  When will my child use words to communicate? 

• We do not have a definitive answer to these questions, because all kids are different!  However, we do know that consistent and intensive early ABA services will be beneficial with improving your child’s independence.  The more involved you are with your child, the therapists and the behavior consultants, the more likely improvements will be observed.  Try to be patient and stay positive.  Please communicate your frustrations with us, so we can help. 

Does Early ABA run as a group or strictly individual? 

• Our center-based Early ABA programs run as a group, with children receiving 1:1 support. Each classroom follows a schedule that allows for both individual “work” and group/social opportunities. 
• Individual programs are based on each childs individualized treatment plan created by our Behavior Consultants (BCBA’s). 

Does your program utilize natural environment teaching?

• YES! In Early ABA, we function as much as a “typical” preschool as we can incorporating opportunities for learning in a natural environment. Skills that children are struggling with in the natural environment are then separated and trained in a more focused and individualized manner. 

What assessments do Elementary Learners use to inform their practice?

• In this program assessments that are use to guide treatment are the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS) Rating Scale, ABOS, Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP), and Essentials for Living. 

Does my adolescent/adult child need to attend all 5 days in order to participate in the Voice or Bridge Programs? 

• No, individuals can choose from 1-5 days per week based upon client and program availability as well as specific program interests.   

Do you offer 1:1 services? 

• The Adolescent and Adult Services Departments offer 1:1 services through our VOICE intensive and BRIDGE intensive programs.  Individual’s receiving funding through DDD’s Good and Services are only allowed to register for group classes offered in the VOICE program and  ineligible for more intensive services and would need to explore other options through their support coordination agency. 

Do you provide transportation? 

• The Adolescent and Adult Services Departments provide transportation during community outings and job sampling programming.  We do not provide transportation to and from program.  We can provide a list various resources available outside program.   

What consultation services does Interactive Kids provide ?

• Interactive Kids provides consultation and training to a variety of settings including, but not limited to , public and private schools, daycare centers, and community-based training centers. 

• • Interactive Kids provides services in schools for individuals, in the classroom, entire school, and educators. 

•  We offer trainings on a variety of topics surrounding ABA, counseling and social skills including Functions of Behavior, Incorporating Social Skills into the Classroom, Managing the Learning Environment, Introduction to Autism, Overview of Applied Behavior Analysis, Preventing Behavior Problems, Preference Assessment: What motivates my child?, Reinforcement, Social Sexual Training, and Team Building/Providing Constructive Feedback. 

How can I apply for my child to receive counseling at Interactive Kids.

• Caregivers can apply for counseling or social skills by reaching out to inquiries@interactivekids.com or calling the Program Coordinators directly. Cherry Hill/Marlton- 856-810-7599 Linwood Location – 856-810-7599 ext. 108.

What credentials do your counselors hold?

• Our counselors have various credentials and degrees including, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Social Worker(LSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC).

What type of counseling services do you offer?

• In the counseling program, therapists offer individual sessions, family-based sessions, and social skills sessions. If you have a specific modality preference, please reach out to the program coordinator for more information. 

What treatment approaches do your counselors utilize?

• Our counselors utilize strength-based treatment approaches including trauma-based interventions, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, play therapy, internal family systems, or a unique combination based on the needs and preferences of the clients. 

How can I apply for my child to receive social skills at Interactive Kids.

• Caregivers can apply for social skills by reaching out to inquiries@interactivekids.com or calling the Program Coordinators directly. Cherry Hill/Marlton- 856-810-7599 Linwood Location – 856-810-7599 ext. 108

Can a student try a social skills call before enrolling?

• Students are eligible for a free trial before enrolling in a social skills group to ensure the goals of the student and group align.