MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Dec. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The rising prevalence of autism, along with expanded coverage of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy in more states and insurance plans, is leading more people to seek treatment options. To meet the growing demand for autism services, Centria Autism, the nation's leading provider of ABA therapy for children with autism, announced an acquisition that will allow it to expand its services in New England.
Effective Dec. 1, 2018, Centria Healthcare has acquired Applied Behavioral Associates, LLC, in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Since 1988, Applied Behavioral Associates has been providing ABA home and community-based services and Outpatient Behavioral Health Services to children and families in the Metrowest area of Boston. Earlier this year, Applied Behavioral Associates Executive Director and Founder Barbara S. Natoli, LMHC, BCBA, LABA announced her retirement.
"For over 30 years, I have had the honor and privilege of managing Applied Behavioral Associates, LLC and working with terrific ABA teams who have delivered high-quality individualized ABA therapy services to hundreds of families in the Metrowest area," Natoli said while announcing her retirement last month.
Natoli said that she had to make a choice: to close the business she started or find a company to continue providing services. She chose the latter, which led her to begin discussions with Centria.
"Centria Autism Services is an amazing company, whose mission to provide high-quality ABA services strongly aligns with our own," Natoli recently said to her staff and to the families they serve. "Centria, headquartered in Michigan, provides ABA therapy to thousands of children in 9 states and offers a broad range of ABA services to families and children with autism and brings a wealth of experience to the region."
Over the next few months, the two companies will begin to blend both company and culture and continue to provide high-quality ABA therapy to more children and their families in the region under the name, Applied Behavioral Associates LLC, a Centria Healthcare company. Plans are underway to build a center-based program adjacent to the Marlborough office.
"Centria's mission is to help every child living with autism to develop, pursue and achieve their own goals and dreams through high-quality ABA therapy and support," said Scott Barry, Chief Executive Officer at Centria Healthcare. "We value the work of Barbara and her amazing staff and we look forward to working with our new team in advancing our mutual missions in New England."
About Centria Healthcare & Centria Autism Services:
Centria Autism Services, an operating division of Centria Healthcare, is a leading national provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism and their families. With its national headquarters in Michigan, and more than 3,500 clinical staff working in nine states, Centria's Optimal Outcomes approach combines child-centered, evidence-based ABA with best practices to help children with ASD have the best developmental experience possible and acquire the skills to live independently and succeed in the world on their own terms.
Applied Behavioral Associates, a Centria Healthcare company is located at 277 Main Street, Suite 308, Marlborough, MA 01752. For more information, please call 508-485-5300 or visit http://www.appliedbehavioralassociates.com. For more information, please visit http://www.centriaautism.com or http://www.centriahealthcare.com.
SOURCE Applied Behavioral Associates
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