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Health West staff urge county to revisit behavior‑technician wage study
Summary
A licensed behavior analyst asked the board to reconsider a wage study finding for behavior technician positions at Health West, citing high turnover and low statewide registration counts.
Ian McElpish, a licensed behavior analyst who supervises behavior technicians at Health West’s Children’s Autism Program, used the public comment period on Feb. 18 to urge county leaders to reconsider results of a recent wage study affecting behavior technician pay.
McElpish told the commissioners that applied behavior analysis is a primary treatment for autism spectrum disorder and that demand for services is rising. He said there are fewer than 4,000 registered behavior technicians in Michigan — about 1% of the worldwide total — and cited an internal turnover rate of roughly 73% for the position over the past year. McElpish said those factors, plus the number of K–12 students and adults with autism in Michigan, mean the county should increase funding for the behavior‑technician role to improve retention and competitiveness.
Commissioners acknowledged the comment and noted an appeal process and existing procedures for addressing concerns about the wage study. The Human Services Committee chair said staff would follow up after the meeting.
