Is It Technical or Relational? A Framework for Pinpointing Caregiver Collaboration Breakdowns

Caregiver treatment integrity remains one of the most persistent challenges in the delivery of applied behavior analysis (ABA) services, with follow-through breakdowns often attributed prematurely to skill deficits or insufficient caregiver training. This session presents a structured problem-solving framework designed to support behavior analysts in differentiating between technical barriers (e.g., skill acquisition deficits, environmental constraints) and relational barriers (e.g., caregiver buy-in, communication breakdowns, trust) that contribute to reduced caregiver follow-through. The framework guides practitioners through a systematic process for identifying the category of barrier present in a given case, selecting a response strategy aligned with that barrier type, and evaluating the social validity and feasibility of the proposed intervention for the family. Case studies representative of common caregiver collaboration scenarios are used to illustrate application of the framework across a range of presentations. Participants will leave with a replicable decision-making process for addressing caregiver follow-through challenges in a manner that is both clinically sound and responsive to family context.