MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University will host the fourth annual Upper Peninsula Association for Behavior Analysis conference Nov. 7-8.

This year’s event will focus on language acquisition strategies and feature national speakers, practical workshops and networking opportunities.

Local professionals recognize that high-quality training and resources often require extensive travel and expense. UPABA was established in 2019 with the assistance of a grant from the Superior Health Foundation to recognize the growing need for local training and resources.

This annual conference seeks to increase knowledge, improve client support and collaborate with institutions for effective care across the Great Lakes region.

NMU professor Jacob Daar is the incoming president of UPABA. The regional nonprofit organization is dedicated to supporting the science and profession of behavior analysis through research, education and practice. To achieve these goals, UPABA facilitates opportunities for professional development, promoting scientific inquiry and information dissemination, advocating for policy and best practices and supporting a collaborative network throughout the U.P.

The conference schedule features a keynote presentation, “From Certification to Treatment Supervision: Considering the Readiness of New BCBAs,” by Carl Sundberg.

Subsequent presentations include:

≤ “Equivalence-Based Instruction: Filling Gaps and Applied Research” by Anna Petursodottir

≤ “Individualized Analyses of HIV Suppression During a Contingency Management Intervention” by Corey Toegel

≤ “How Children Come to Learn Language Incidentally: A Theory of Verbal Behavior Development” by Jessica Dudek

≤ “Coaching on the Fly: An Empirical Study of Follow-Up Coaching in a School Setting” by Kara Shawbitz and Logan Zupko

≤ Panel Discussion: “The Ethics of Goal Writing and Insurance Funding”

≤ “Getting the Most Out of Our Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program” by Carl Sundberg

≤ “From Observing Responses to Incidental Language-Learning: How to Establish and Accelerate Children’s Verbal Development” by Jessica Dudek

To learn more about the conference or UPABA, visit UPABA.org.