In April 2017, the Golden LEAF Board awarded $100,000 to ABC of NC Foundation to support the construction of a 23,000-square-foot diagnostic and therapeutic clinic, which has led to the creation of 55 new high-demand jobs and 65 new skilled workers. The $4.5 million building was supported by several public and private resources.
ABC of NC is one of only a handful of comprehensive autism service providers in North Carolina. With autism prevalence rates rising more than 120% since 2000 and increased coverage of intensive autism therapies by some insurance providers and Medicaid, the demand for autism services is steadily increasing.
ABC of NC uses applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy. This type of therapy in North Carolina requires three levels of workers: a psychologist who oversees a master’s level board certified behavior analyst who oversees registered behavior technicians. ABC of NC is helping solve the bottleneck in the hiring pipeline by taking a proactive approach.
“We have established an in-house training program,” said Angie Wilson ABC of NC Director of Development. “Once our employees sit for the registered behavioral technician exam, they have a certification that is portable. We want them to stay with us, but they can use this credential anywhere. Additionally, we have created an internal pipeline, where we nurture their skills and help them hone their craft. They can then move up within our internal tier system and possibly earn a master’s level credential if they choose.”
So far, ABC of NC has helped train 65 workers with new skills, credentials, and/or degrees. The opportunities for careers in autism treatment are growing. ABC of NC offers a great pipeline to quality careers and provides needed services for many North Carolina families.
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