Ericka Braggs – Founder, Shape Our Village

In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy Zercher sits down with Ericka Braggs, Founder of Shape Our Village and co-author of the A Million Possibilities caregiver training curriculum.Drawing from her background as a school counselor and BCBA, Ericka shares why some of the most effective ABA interventions begin by listening before teaching. She discusses the importance of cultural humility, building genuine partnerships with families, and creating programs that work in the realities of everyday life—not just on paper.Ericka also shares the challenges of growing a mission-driven organization, why caregiver training deserves more attention in ABA, and how providers can bridge the gap between clinical expertise and family expertise to create lasting outcomes.Whether you're a BCBA, clinical leader, or behavioral health entrepreneur, this conversation offers a thoughtful perspective on what it means to deliver care that is both evidence-based and deeply human.What You'll Learn: How Ericka's journey from school counseling led her into ABA  Why caregiver training is critical for long-term success  The role of cultural humility in effective treatment  How to build stronger partnerships with families  Challenges of scaling a relationship-driven organization  Marketing lessons for behavioral health innovators  Why human connection may be the missing ingredient in many ABA programs