A team of graduate students from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University has released a report analyzing the workforce challenges faced by autism professionals in New Jersey. The study, conducted at the request of Autism New Jersey, compares the state's landscape to two other states and focuses on behavior analysts and psychiatrists.
The research used both comparative analysis and interviews with service professionals to assess current conditions. The findings highlight that Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) are essential for providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to individuals with autism. However, BCBAs face significant challenges such as burnout, inconsistent supervision, financial obstacles, and uneven distribution of services—particularly in rural regions.
Psychiatrists also play a critical role in diagnosing and treating autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but often encounter workforce shortages, limited exposure to ASD early in their careers, and disparities in access based on location.
Based on these findings, the report recommends several strategies for improving support for autism professionals:
- Developing partnerships with higher education institutions in New Jersey to create a pipeline for future workers in the field. This could involve Autism New Jersey taking an active role in connecting students with ABA opportunities through campus events and research projects.
- Creating a statewide coalition to increase awareness about New Jersey’s Behavioral Healthcare Provider Loan Redemption Program, which began in 2023. Interviews revealed limited knowledge of this program among professionals; therefore, Autism New Jersey is encouraged to work with government stakeholders on public messaging efforts.
- Assessing whether workforce development programs from states like New York and Massachusetts can be adapted for use in New Jersey. These programs go beyond student loan assistance and may help retain and recruit behavior analysts and psychiatrists if implemented locally.
"Autism New Jersey should consider serving as a coordinating body that connects New Jersey’s postsecondary education students to the applied behavior analysis field. This could include an active role in showcasing ABA through on-campus events, creating ABA-specific experiential learning opportunities, and providing students with research opportunities in ABA-related content," according to the report.
"Autism New Jersey, in collaboration with governmental stakeholders, should develop a public messaging campaign to expand knowledge and utilization by behavior analysts and psychiatrists," the authors recommend regarding awareness of loan redemption programs.
Finally, they suggest: "Autism New Jersey should collaborate with the designated state department and non-governmental entities to assess the feasibility of replicating these programs."
The full report provides further details on each recommendation.
