Sarah Fefer, Ph.D., BCBA
Sarah is a researcher, trainer, behavior analyst, and systems consultant supporting children, youth, families, and schools in meeting the needs of students with challenging behavior. Sarah has worked in the area of Positive Behavior Supports since 2012 when she completed an advanced practicum at All Children’s Hospital. Her area of emphasis during her doctoral training in School Psychology at the University of South Florida was family-focused behavioral interventions. Under the supervision of Meme Hieneman, Sarah delivered and evaluated the outcomes of informational workshops and intensive positive behavior support to families experiencing a wide range of challenging child behavior. After her graduate training, Sarah moved to Massachusetts and worked as a doctoral intern in specialized schools for individuals with Brain Injuries and Autism Spectrum Disorders. There, she provided training in proactive, positive behavioral intervention to teachers, families, and residential staff. Sarah’s applied experiences with youth and families across school, hospital, and clinic settings contribute to her current work focused on family-focused strategies as the key to student success.
Sarah is now an Associate Professor of School Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she has trained graduate students and engaged in research and service delivery related to positive behavior support for families since 2013. Her most recent project focused on providing family education through schools, teaching parents to prevent and manage challenging behavior at home. This project involves implementing multiple types of family education using a multi-tiered model, with some proactive strategies available for all families with children in the school and more intensive education offered to families of students with more significant challenging behaviors.