Elizabeth Houck, PhD, BCBA-D
Assistant Professor, MMI Dept of Specialized Behavior Intervention
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Elizabeth "Bethjoy" Houck, PhD, BCBA-D is an assistant professor and board-certified behavior analyst in the Specialized Behavior Intervention Department at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Meyer Institute. In 2023, Houck completed her PhD at the University of North Texas where she worked as a clinician across programs serving children and adults with severe problem behavior in clinic, home and residential environments.
Currently, Houck works in MMI’s Specialized Behavior Intervention Department (formerly Severe Behavior Department) where she is a case manager for the day treatment, intensive outpatient and follow-up clinics. The programs within the Specialized Behavior Intervention Department provide assessment and treatment services to children with severe problem behaviors. The aim of services is to provide evidence-based behavior assessments, interventions and training to individuals and their caregivers, focusing on decreasing problematic and maladaptive behaviors, and teaching functional, alternative behaviors using the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis.
- PhD: Health Services Research - University of North Texas, 2023.
- MEd: Autism and Developmental Disabilities - University of Texas at Austin, 2009.
- BA: Cognitive Neuroscience - Johns Hopkins University, 2008.
Specialty Certifications:
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Houck provides patient care services in the Department of Specialized Behavior Intervention at Munroe-Meyer Institute.
- Clinic Location: Munroe-Meyer Institute
- Houck, E.J., & Dracobly, J.D. (2022). Trauma-Informed Care for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: From Disparity to Policies for Effective Action. Perspectives on Behavior Science, (1-21)
- Houck, E.J., Dracobly, J.D., & Baak, S.A., (2022). A Practitioners Guide for Selecting Functional Communication Responses. Behavior Analysis in Practice. (1-11)
- Houck, E. J., Dracobly, J. D., Smith, R. G., Bauer, M. S., Pelletier, D. R., & Sanchez, A. J. (2024). Adapting preference assessments and reinforcement schedules to increase mask wearing with adults with intellectual disabilities. Behavioral Interventions, e2008.
- Mpofu, E., Houck, E.J., Linden, A., & Fernandez, C. (2022). Intellectual and Developmental Disability Health and Wellbeing. In E. Mpofu (Ed.). Sustainable Community Health: systems and Practices in Diverse Settings. New York, NY: Palgrave/Macmillan.
Houck has taught courses in functional assessment of problem behavior, evidence-based practice in applied behavior analysis and research methods. She has also supervised students for practicum courses completing requirements for credentialing as board certified behavior analysts.
- Function-based interventions for severe problem behavior.
- Trauma-informed care for individuals with communication disorders.
- SEAB Dissertation Award in Applied Research, APA: Division 25, 2024.
- Innovative Student Research Grant, Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis, 2022.
- Association for Behavior Analysis International.
- Association of Professional Behavior Analysts.
- American Psychological Association.
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Munroe-Meyer Institute
985450 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5450
Explore programs and services available through MMI's Specialized Behavior Intervention Department.