A Win for Those in Need of Applied Behavior Analysis Services in Ionia county Michigan
Autistic children and young adults living in Ionia County Michigan will continue to enjoy even more access to applied behavior analysis (ABA) services at Right Door for Hope, Recovery and Wellness (formerly known as the Ionia County Community Mental Health).
Present at the groundbreaking ceremony to expand Right Door on November 21st 2016 were representatives from the Right Door Board of Directors, Triangle Associates, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Montcalm Care Network. The planned addition to Right Door’s Belding location is set for completion by June 2017.
The Belding location was initially equipped with just four rooms to provide ABA services for children and young adults seeking autism support. Yet, the board was quickly surprised by how much demand for ABA services existed in the local community, prompting discussions surrounding the need for additional space.
Once completed, the center will boast six treatment rooms along with a children’s play zone to promote interactive behavior and practice motor skill development.
Right Door’s decision to launch the addition is also calling attention to the importance of supplying rural communities with mental health services, which are far more readily available in the state’s more urban settings like Detroit and Grand Rapids.
The USDA’s nearly $1 million loan to advance the project was matched by locally derived funds allocated for the purpose of extending ABA and mental health aid to rural populations.
By completing the center’s addition, Right Door is sure to cement its already stellar reputation for achievement. According to the Ionia County Community Mental Authority’s 2015 Annual Report, the number of individuals and families that benefitted from services provided by Right Door rose from 2,353 in 2013 to 2,806 by 2014.
And if Right Door’s commitment to expand its reach of influence is any indication, there’s no telling how high these numbers could soar.