News & Press

MACON — River Edge Behavioral Health Center and Auburn University’s Department of Psychology have signed an agreement creating a fellowship that educates certified behavior analysts to be employed at River Edge. 

 

“We are proud to support the students in this prestigious program and are thrilled to know they will be coming to work with us upon graduation,” said Shannon Terrell Harvey, chief executive officer of River Edge. “At River Edge, our goal is to make life better.  The availability of trained behavior analysts are key component of making life better for the individuals with intellectual disabilities whom we support toward lives of independence and community integration.  Auburn is the closest program to central Georgia offering this specialized training.” 

 

Under the agreement, River Edge will support a one-year assistantship for students while they are in the Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis in Developmental Disabilities at Auburn. Upon completion of the program, the students agree to work for River Edge as behavior analysts for at least one year. 

 

“The M.S. ABA Program in the Department of Psychology at Auburn University is excited to forge this new relationship with River Edge,” said John T. Rapp, Ph. D., BCBA-D, associate professor and director of the ABA Program. “In addition to providing graduates to fill the roles of Board Certified Behavior Analysts, the faculty look forward to working with River Edge to help provide solid behavior-analytic services to their clients.”

 

Behavior analysts are trained to provide therapeutic supports to individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders, addressing the goals of mastering new skills and reducing problem behaviors.  Analysts develop action and treatment plans for individuals, helping them develop the skills they need in successful community life.    

 

River Edge has provided comprehensive mental health, addictive disease, and developmental disabilities services and supports in Central Georgia since 1950. Through multiple locations, River Edge currently serves more than 12,000 youth and adult residents of Bibb, Baldwin, Jones, Monroe, Putnam, Twiggs, Wilkinson and surrounding counties annually.  With special expertise to assist individuals with intensive support needs, River Edge empowers, encourages recovery and strengthens resilience. River Edge accepts Medicaid, Medicare, most private insurance and offers a sliding scale fee for individuals without insurance. River-Edge.org