Demand Drives Hopebridge Expansion
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndianapolis-based Hopebridge LLC is continuing its growth efforts in Indiana. The behavioral health services provider has announced plans to expand with locations in Fishers and Columbus, which are expected to open this summer and create more than 110 jobs. The new locations will bring the company’s pediatric autism therapy network in Indiana to 17, with more than 20 additional locations in Ohio, Kentucky and Georgia.
In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Chief Executive Officer Dennis May said it is very difficult to keep up with the demand and need for the services provided by the centers.
"The prevalence of children with autism is now 1 in 59, so there’s a significant need. There’s a significant wait for children to be able to gain access to care," said May. "Across the United States right now, the average wait time is right at one year from the time that a child is diagnosed to the time that they could begin to receive year could take up to a year. Especially when you consider the early intervention and being able to provide therapy services early in the child’s development cycle is so important, it really is critical that these families can be able to find care and be able to find therapy."
Hopebridge was founded in Kokomo in 2005 and says it has plans to expand to even more states this year. May says the new Fishers and Columbus locations fill a need in those areas and will be able to serve more than 100 families.
The new centers are currently scheduling diagnostic assessments for autism spectrum disorder. The company is also reserving appointments for applied behavior analysis evaluations, with ABA therapy expected to begin in August.
"Even after more than a decade of providing for families in Indiana, there’s a growing need for autism services in the state,” Kim Strunk, Hopebridge founder and chief clinical officer, said in a news release. "Though our center-based services have grown across multiple states since our beginnings, Indiana is our home base and our mission has never wavered from making sure all children with autism have access to the therapy they need to reach their full potential."
May also stressed the importance of creating more ABA therapist jobs as the expansion of the company continues. He says, since its founding, Hopebridge has created more than 1,000 jobs.
Hopebridge was acquired by New York-based private equity firm Arsenal Capital Partners earlier this year. At that time, May said he was confident the deal would enhance the company’s ability to make investments in its platform.
May says it is very difficult to keep up with the demand and need for the services provided by the centers.