Jessica La Favre Becomes Hope’s First Registered Behavior Technician
As the Enhanced Behavioral Day Program (EBDP) opens in Gilroy, one member of our team is making history. Jessica La Favre is the first at Hope to earn the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) credential, and she is helping launch a program built for adults with developmental disabilities who also experience significant behavioral challenges.
The EBDP offers person-centered, trauma-informed, and evidence-based support in a highly individualized, one-on-one setting.
From Homeschool to Hope
When Jessica’s children graduated from the homeschool program she had led for years, she found herself asking a big question: what comes next? Her answer has taken her from retail management to job coaching to a brand-new role at the heart of one of Hope’s most exciting programs.
Jessica spent almost three years managing a retail store before realizing the work wasn’t fulfilling her. She applied to become a job coach at Hope and knew quickly that she had found her place. “I enjoyed helping all my clients,” she says. “It felt fulfilling to me to help somebody in all those ways.” Jessica also has family members with developmental disabilities, which gives her a personal connection to Hope’s mission.
After a year of job coaching, she saw a chance to grow as an RBT. She applied, interviewed, and was hired. She was even brought on a little early to help prepare for the launch, ordering supplies and getting the room ready.
“It’s hard to navigate this world and not have somebody on your side. And I want to be on their side.”
Jessica La Favre
A Program Like No Other
The EBDP begins this week. Led by Cathy Bouchard and Allison Yant, it is a one-on-one program for adults with autism, and Jessica describes it as the first of its kind. Research on supporting autistic adults is limited, and even RBT certification focuses mostly on children. The team hopes the program will help change that and eventually be replicated at other Hope locations. Three clients are enrolled to start.
What an RBT Does
An RBT works under a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), putting each client’s plan into practice day to day. That might mean breaking a task like brushing teeth into small steps, a technique called chaining, or helping a client find new ways to communicate with the people in their life.
RBTs are guided by a framework known as ABC. The Antecedent is what happens before a behavior, the Behavior is what the person does, and the Consequence is simply what happens afterward. As Jessica explains, a consequence is not a punishment, only the result. By looking at the whole sequence, she can work out what a client needs in the moment, whether that is a hug, some quiet, or a snack.
Observation, Patience, and Choice
Jessica’s approach comes down to three things: observation, patience, and choice. “Show me what you know so that I can fill in the gaps,” she says. Rather than directing a client, she offers options and lets them decide. “People with autism are very smart, very intelligent people, and they deserve the right to make decisions.”
Earning the Credential
The path to RBT certification is demanding. It includes 41 hours of training and a challenging exam that Jessica passed on her third attempt. “Third time’s a charm,” she laughs. Her advice to colleagues curious about the role is simple: “If you’re afraid, do it afraid.” She also encourages anyone interested to visit and see the work firsthand, noting that the RBT credential “opens a lot of doors.”
Celebrating Success
Jessica’s proudest moments so far come from her time as a job coach, especially watching clients land jobs and keep them. She remembers one client whose internship at a local grocery store turned into a full-time position. “I only helped you and advocated for you,” she told them. “You got this job with the abilities that you have.”
Now her goal is to see clients build skills they can use anywhere, with her, with family, and on their own. She hopes to become a BCBA herself someday, driven in part by loved ones who found little support as adults. “It puts fire in my lungs to want to do it,” she says, “and Hope is a perfect place to do it.”
Outside of Work
Jessica sings on her church’s worship team and treasures time with family. She also recharges with a trip to the beach (“dig my toes in the sand and get my sensory on”), a massage every payday, and the occasional makeup session at her mirror. Leaving work at work, she says, is essential to doing this job well.
Welcome to the RBT team, Jessica. We are so glad you are here.