Improving the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities
Our mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities through Quality Observations and Assessments used to develop individualized Treatment plans that respect human dignity, clearly communicate the wants and needs of the client and offer paid staff and families scientific-based interventions for decreasing maladaptive behaviors and increasing positive behaviors while supporting professional development and quality of life initiatives for Behavior Services & Therapy staff.
Our Story
Our CEO, Kelly Murray Howard has provided behavior management services since February 2003 when she started with 11 Medicaid Waiver clients in Laporte and St. Joseph Counties. Delivering professional, individualized treatment led to growth beyond what one behavior consultant could effectively handle. Which was when Kelly convinced Lori to join her. That was in April 2005 and Linda was asked to keep both ladies organized as she fulfilled the office manager role as a volunteer. The office manager became a paid part-time position approximately six months later.
The need for additional behavior consultants resulted in another behavior consultant joining the team in 2007 and the behavior management group has grown to 20+ therapists. Linda has transitioned to semi-retirement focusing her attention on accounts receivable activities. Clients hoping to increase their coping, verbal and motor skills through music created the demand for a full-fledged music therapy department with 6-8 music therapists at any given time! In 2014, a therapeutic recreational therapist was finally hired after years of searching! Now the recreational therapy department has 7-11 therapists at any given time and is extremely active offering monthly skills labs for group socialization at the office as well as the one-to-one weekly Waiver services. The Behavior Services & Therapy team and clients served has grown more than 375% since beginning service in March 2008.
As a leader in the delivery of behavior management, recreation therapy and music therapy services in the Michiana area, the name Behavior Services & Therapy was selected to reflect the hard work and dedication of the staff. Quality individualized services is more than a motto to the Behavior Services & Therapy Team — it’s a firm belief that the clients we serve deserve to retain their dignity even during difficult times. Whether those difficult times are related to behavioral challenges or environmental challenges such as when COVID-19 created a national health emergency that forced many states into a lockdown. Behavior Services & Therapy staff proudly persevered for their clients and used creativity and strict Universal Precautions to continue providing services to individuals.
