In this episode of the Behavioral Observations Podcast, I’m joined by Kim Dean, founder of Apollo Behavior, and Kristen Vaughn, Vice President of Clinical Operations, to talk about what it really takes to build and sustain clinical excellence in autism services.
We discuss Apollo’s decision to launch in Georgia, their highly
selective hiring process, and how values alignment plays a central role in building their culture.
Kim and Kristen share how Apollo approaches training differently — including a four-week RBT onboarding program that exceeds certification requirements and a structured mentorship model for BCBAs.
The results are notable, with 99% of Apollo's RBTs passing their exams on the first attempt! Even more impressive is that 84%
of Apollo-trained BCBAs pass their exam on the first attempt too.
Compared to the current average pass rate that hovers around 52-54%, that's simply amazing!
We also dig into how Apollo defines and measures clinical excellence, including the use of norm-referenced assessments, family feedback, progress toward less restrictive environments, and ongoing data analysis to improve training and service delivery.
This
conversation is especially relevant for BCBAs, clinical leaders, and practice owners who are thinking seriously about how to scale services without sacrificing quality — and how to design systems that support clinicians, families, and long-term outcomes.
If this sounds like a great work environment to you, and you'd like to learn more, click
here.
