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Forming Friendhips LLC
by Kpetefish- 5CREATIVES
- 23ENTRIES
- 15,168CONTEST VIEWS
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Company or website name
Forming Friendhips LLC
Links to the website
www.formingfriendships.org (in process)
Describe your company and organization and target audience
Forming Friendships LLC is an organization providing services for children, teens and adults on the autism spectrum. We use applied behavior analysis (ABA) to teach communication skills, life skills, play and social skills. Our clinic is on a small hobby farm and we also go into homes and schools. I have included detailed information about the organization below. The website is in development but will contain the same information. The target audience for the brochure includes pediatricians, speech and language therapists and other agencies who can serve as referral sources.
Forming Friendships LLC uses applied behavior analysis techniques to assist clients with autism to develop those skills they are lacking so they can live life to their fullest potential. We strive not just to teach traditional social skills to clients with autism but to teach “neurotypical” individuals to understand the perspectives of those with autism. It is in this understanding that friendships and relationships can truly be developed.
Forming Friendships LLC believes that one of the best ways to help clients with autism to form relationships is through experiential, hands on learning often in association with peers who may or may not be on the autism spectrum. Forming Friendships LLC provides opportunities for children and adults to learn skills by doing things they like—such as gardening, theater, dinosaur “excavations”, Legos, playing video games, raising chickens or even milking a goat!
ABOUT ABA
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is considered the gold standard for the treatment of children with autism and is one of the major specialized treatments offered by Forming Friendships LLC to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). ABA has been endorsed as an effective treatment for autism and developmental disabilities by The American Medical Association, The American Psychological Association, The National Institute of Mental Health, and The Center for Disease Control.
Behavior Analysts believe that all behavior serves a purpose. By identifying the underlying purpose of behavior the analyst can understand how to work with the client and family to change maladaptive behaviors which cause difficulties and challenges for everyone involved. ABA relies on reinforcement to create behavior change and to teach these new skills. For example, a child who screams and cries to get his mother's attention could be taught to raise their hand to more appropriately request attention. A nonverbal adult who hits others to leave them alone can be taught to use hand signals or pictures to request alone time. Even in the absence of extreme maladaptive behaviors, ABA can enhance the independence of an individual through skills acquisition instruction such as functional communication, money management, job skills, conversational skills, self-care, etc.
STAFF
In order to maintain a high level of commitment to families and to provide a high quality level of service, caseloads with clients needing intensive services are kept very small. Kathy Petefish, LCPC, BCBA, LBA is a licensed professional counselor and licensed behavior analyst with over 15 years experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities in the home, school, community and clinic environments. Forming Friendships LLC contracts with highly qualified registered behavior technicians and direct support professionals to implement skills training as needed. Social skills groups and activities are provided in partnership with other agencies and locations including Emerging Inc., a nonprofit farm whose focus us to allow the public to learn the basics of gardening, sustainability and care of livestock.
BELIEFS
We believe that individuals with autism should be treated with respect and dignity. We teach skills that help our clients adapt more easily into a "neurotypical" world but we believe that it is just as important to try to understand and honor their unique perspectives and ideas.
SERVICES
Forming Friendships LLC serves clients in and around South County and the cities of House Springs, Fenton, Desoto, Dittmer, Hillsboro, Arnold and Barnhart. Assessments are conducted at intake to provide recommendations for service needs; assessments determine whether a client would benefit from direct enrollment in a social skills group or whether he/she may need more specific 1:1 instruction prior to enrolling in a group.
Specific services provided include:
• In-clinic ABA services to teach and generalize needed life and social skills. In-clinic services are often useful for instruction in:
o Tolerance training for doctor and dentist visits, haircuts, and community outings
o Functional communication training (e.g. PECS)
• In home ABA services for clients with intensive needs. In home instruction is frequently done in conjunction with work at the clinic. In home ABA services may target comprehensive needs in language and daily living skills or single needs such as toilet training
• Life skills instruction including cooking, self-care, money management and safety precautions
• 1:1 social skills instruction which involves working directly with clients on instruction of basic social skills with the goal of providing them with the opportunity to practice these skills in group environments doing activities they enjoy (e.g., gardening, theater, Legos, video games, etc.)
• Experiential social skills groups and activities set up based on the interest of the client. For example, if a client loves playing video games, a group can be established with other clients who have similar interests. The foundation of similar interests provides an ideal foundation for implementing and practicing social skills. In many of these groups, individuals not on the autism spectrum are incorporated as peer mentors and communicative partners.
• Anti-bullying and acceptance of diversity training programs
OUR LOCATION
The clinic at Forming Friendships LLC is located on a small farm in Hillsboro, Missouri operated by Emerging Inc., a nonprofit organization focusing on teaching the public about basic sustainability and small farm practices. The clinic office and learning area is set up to provide opportunities for incidental and natural environment instruction as well as discrete trial training. Forming Friendships LLC partners with Emerging Inc. to provide experiential social skills groups and activities such as gardening, 4-H involvement, and care taking of small livestock including goats, rabbits and chickens.
FUNDING
Forming Friendships LLC serves clients in and around South County and the cities of House Springs, Fenton, Desoto, Dittmer, Hillsboro, Arnold and Barnhart. Insurances accepted include United Behavioral Health, Anthem, Aetna and Missouri Medicaid. If a client has other private insurance, it may be possible to conduct a single case agreement with the insurance carrier. Private pay rates are also available.
CONTACT
Clinic location:
171 Roberts Drive
Hillsboro, MO 63050
Phone: 314-297-0793
Fax: 314-202-5441
Email: info@formingfriendships.org
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