Colby-Sawyer College Partnership with Compass Innovative Behavior Strategies Provides Students with Career Training
Colby-Sawyer College and Compass Innovative Behavior Strategies have signed a pilot agreement that will provide students with a paid internship on campus and offer local families a convenient site for their children to receive behavioral therapy.
The agreement, co-signed by Interim Academic Vice President and Dean of Faculty Laura Alexander and Compass CEO and Co-Founder Dan Dube, will provide up to 10 Colby-Sawyer students with internships in applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy at the college’s laboratory school, Windy Hill, this spring semester.
Applied behavior analysis is an in-demand intervention for individuals with developmental delays, and according to Compass, ABA has been scientifically proven to demonstrate positive developmental results for children with autism. The approach focuses on modifying observable behaviors so that individuals can fully function in society.
Child development majors can work up to 160 hours and earn up to four credits during their internship. Compass will provide up to 80 hours of online or in-person training and supervision.
It will also pay students a stipend for their work and provide training so that students can earn Registered Behavior Technician certification to become paraprofessionals in the field.
“By using a classroom at Windy Hill School for applied behavior therapy, we will be offering our students an option to gain specialized skills and the community a new resource,” said Director of Windy Hill and Associate Professor of Social Sciences and Education Diane Edwards.
“We are excited about this revolutionary partnership between a private college and a commercial business,” said Dube. “Our client families in this area will now have a state-of-the-art facility to receive services, and Compass now has access to a pool of students that will be trained to become excellent Registered Behavior Technicians.”
The pilot agreement with Compass is for the spring semester, with the possibility of a summer or fall pilot agreement based on the college’s and Compass’ evaluation of the program.
Update: As of March 20, five students have completed extensive training and are interning with Compass. Due to families’ preference, the ABA therapy is now conducted as an in-home service.
About Windy Hill School
Founded in 1976, Windy Hill School is an integral part of Colby-Sawyer College and offers quality early care and learning experiences for toddlers, preschoolers and pre-kindergarteners.
College students from multiple disciplines work alongside classroom teachers and collaborate on research initiatives. Windy Hill boasts child development faculty with doctoral degrees who integrate their curriculum with lab school experiences, as well as highly qualified, degreed classroom teachers credentialed by the N.H. Department of Education or N.H. Department of Health and Human Services Child Development Bureau.
In 2010, Windy Hill School moved to its current location, a $2.4 million LEED-Silver Certified facility designed to be environmentally friendly while meeting the early care and learning needs of children. Windy Hill is licensed by N.H. Department of Health and Human Services.
About Compass Innovative Behavior Strategies
Founded in 2014, Compass provides home-based and school/clinic-based behavior therapy, parent training and a variety of other services to more than 160 clients in New Hampshire and Vermont. This agreement will further expand treatment opportunities for families in the area by bringing Compass’ services directly to them. For more information about Compass Innovative Behavior Strategies, call 603-488-5008 x802 or visit www.compassbehavior.com.