CASP hires Joy Pollard as first vice president of clinical standards

The Council of Autism Service Providers has named Joy Pollard its first vice president of clinical standards, adding a veteran BCBA, researcher and former provider executive to help shape ABA practice guidelines. The move comes as CASP expands efforts to educate payors, providers and government officials about clinical standards and evidence-based autism care.

Why it matters: - CASP is creating a dedicated clinical standards leadership role as the autism services trade association grows. - Pollard will help guide standards that affect autism service providers, healthcare payors and government officials. - The role is aimed at strengthening the field’s accepted clinical practices and the next version of CASP’s ABA Practice Guidelines.

What happened: - The Council of Autism Service Providers hired Joy Pollard as its first-ever vice president of clinical standards. - Pollard brings nearly two decades of experience as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, clinical scientist and executive leader. - CASP announced the hire on August 11, 2026. - Pollard previously founded the Behavior Change Institute in 2014 and served as CEO for 11 years. - Pollard most recently led clinical research and innovation at the Center for Social Dynamics.

The details: - Pollard has worked with CASP before as a subject matter expert on ABA Practice Guidelines V3.0. - Pollard was the lead author of CASP’s Telehealth Practice Parameters. - Pollard holds an adjunct faculty appointment at Stanford University School of Medicine. - Pollard’s research includes a randomized controlled trial comparing telehealth-enabled behavioral treatment with in-person, parent-mediated behavioral treatment. - Pollard has published on ethics, telehealth and related topics. - Pollard’s work has appeared in The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and Behavior Analysis Research and Practice. - CASP CEO Lorri Unumb said Pollard will educate payors, autism service providers and government officials about ABA Practice Guidelines and other clinical standards. - Unumb said Pollard will also lead development of the guidelines’ next iteration. - Pollard said the new role is personal because a family member is on the autism spectrum. - Pollard said access to high-quality behavioral health services is life-changing. - CASP was founded in 2016. - CASP is a nonprofit trade association with more than 475 autism service provider organizations across all 50 states and multiple countries. - CASP says it supports members by sharing and advocating for best practices in autism services. - CASP says it develops clinical practice guidelines for ABA and educates legislators about autism policy.

Between the lines: - The hire signals that CASP is treating clinical standards as a core policy and credibility issue, not just an internal technical function. - Pollard’s mix of provider leadership, research experience and guideline-writing suggests CASP wants stronger influence in both science and policy discussions. - The new role may also help CASP present a more unified message as autism service standards face scrutiny from payors and regulators.

What's next: - Pollard will begin educating stakeholders on CASP’s current ABA Practice Guidelines and related standards. - CASP is expected to work on the next iteration of its guideline framework. - Pollard’s role will likely shape how CASP communicates evidence-based care to providers, payors and public officials.

The bottom line: - CASP is betting that a dedicated clinical standards executive can help it defend, update and broaden acceptance of its autism care guidelines.