Autism New Jersey is pleased to welcome Dr. Tracy Kettering, BCBA-D, as its new Director of Clinical Initiatives. In this role, she will lead the organization’s healthcare initiative and contribute her clinical expertise across Autism New Jersey’s work, with a particular focus on improving care and outcomes for individuals with severe challenging behavior.
“Tracy brings an exceptional combination of clinical and research experience and has a strong track record of improving care for individuals with complex needs,” said Dr. Suzanne Buchanan, Autism New Jersey’s Executive Director.
“Her expertise will strengthen our work with healthcare providers and other community partners to improve the health and safety of individuals with autism statewide.”
A doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst with more than 20 years of experience in applied behavior analysis, Tracy is nationally recognized for her expertise in autism and the assessment and treatment of challenging behavior. She has authored peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and presented nationally and regionally on challenging behavior, clinical training models, and best practices for supporting individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities.
Her work has also extended beyond traditional clinical settings. Tracy has trained law enforcement officers, TSA officials, healthcare providers, and other professionals in New Jersey and across the country. She currently serves on the inaugural board of the Association for Behavior Analysis International’s Challenging Behavior Special Interest Group and is the Principal Investigator of a $300,000 clinical research grant from the New Jersey Department of Health exploring best practices for collaboration between medical and behavioral health providers.
Tracy also comes to Autism New Jersey with an established connection to the organization, having participated in its healthcare consortium and collaborated with the Council for Autism Service Providers (CASP).
“I’ve seen firsthand Autism New Jersey’s ability to bring people together around complex challenges and turn expertise into practical improvements for autistic individuals and their families,” said Tracy.
“I’m excited to build on that work, particularly by strengthening collaboration between healthcare and behavioral health providers and helping ensure that individuals with the most complex needs receive high-quality, coordinated care.”
Autism New Jersey is a nonprofit organization that connects families, professionals, and educators to trusted autism resources, training, and advocacy across New Jersey. We guide families with practical and emotional support, partner with communities to help them be more autism friendly, and raise statewide standards.