Clinical director visits alma mater to recruit for Little Star Center

Breanne presenting her mentor, Dr. Maloff, with an ABA superhero shirt.

Breanne presents her mentor, Dr. Richard Malott, with an ABA superhero shirt.

By Breanne Hartley, Ph.D, BCBA-D

I recently had the opportunity to visit my alma mater, Western Michigan University, in order to attend the Midwestern Behavior Analysis job fair. It was a pleasure to be at my old stomping grounds, which holds so many fond memories of professional development and growth, to represent Little Star Center. I had the opportunity to briefly present to undergraduate and graduate students regarding how amazing it is to be an employee at Little Star Center. Afterwards, I received great feedback on the information that was presented. Students were extremely impressed that Little Star Center provides its employees with frequent learning opportunities to continuously learn about behavior analysis, ongoing opportunities for professional development, daily collaboration with other like-minded behavior analysts, and a competitive benefits package.

My visit to Western Michigan University also allowed me the chance to visit with my mentor, Dr. Richard Malott, whom I studied under to receive my Doctorate in behavior analysis. His passion for behavior analysis and his enthusiasm for continuing to provide exceptional graduate-level behavior analytic training is contagious. I gave him an “ABA superhero” t-shirt, the Little Star Center swag for the job fair, and he proudly wore it to the job fair social. He truly is an ABA superhero!

Breanne Hartley is a clincial director at Little Star Center. 

Little Star Center announces new West Lafayette ABA facility for children affected by autism, hiring new staff

Little Star Center, Indiana’s first center-based, therapeutic applied behavior analysis (ABA) provider serving children to young adults with autism, announces today it is opening a fourth location in Indiana. The new site will be the second Little Star facility in the Lafayette area, and will be located at 3595 Sagamore Parkway North, Suite 5.

“The Little Star Center currently operating in Lafayette is at capacity,” said Mary Rosswurm, Little Star Center executive director. “The new, location is just nine miles away, but takes about 25 minutes to get from one location to other. With Purdue University extending ABA therapy coverage to its staff in 2016, our board and leadership team know more families will seek out services for children impacted by autism. We are ready to fill that need with a conveniently located facility for university parents.”

Information sessions for parents

The new Lafayette location, at 3595 Sagamore Parkway North, Suite 5, is scheduled to open in January, 2016. Information sessions for parents will be hosted:

  • At Four Points by Sheraton-West Lafayette, 1600 Cumberland Ave
  • Monday, Oct. 26, 6 to 7:30 p.m., and
  • Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Families seeking information about applying for ABA services at Little Star Center also can email   Victoria Blessing Wade.

New center creates new jobs

Jobs are available at the new Lafayette center. Current openings include an assistant clinical director and therapists with a background in education, child psychology, special education, speech sciences and child development. Experience with autism or ABA is preferred. Job descriptions are online.

Little Star Center is a non-profit that raises funds to support families when insurance challenges surrounding ABA therapy arise. Little Star Center Board President Bill Bower says, “We were pleased to have Little Star Center families work with Purdue University as it considered expanding its benefits coverage to Purdue University employees. Yet we know there are times when families encounter insurance challenges. Our scholarship program helps families continue services by bridging that financial gap. We’re the only ABA facility in the state to provide this type of scholarship support and proud to be 100 percent non-profit able to do it.”

Little Star Center, with centers in Carmel, Lafayette and now Bloomington, is Indiana’s first applied behavior analysis center founded in 2002 is focused on providing a place where kids with autism learn to live in the world and parents learn they are not alone. Little Star services Hoosier families providing in-home and center-based ABA therapy, along with transition to school and community-based programs for children and families. Statistics show autism is one of the most rapidly growing developmental disabilities in the United States with one in 68 children diagnosed each year. Operating as a non-profit, the organization raises funds to support learner scholarships for families who find themselves in need of a safety net when insurance challenges arise. To learn more about the organization review this website.

 

Little Star Center announces new West Lafayette ABA facility for children affected by autism, hiring new staff

Read the full release here:

Little Star Center announces new West Lafayette ABA facility for children affected by autism, hiring new staff

Little Star Center Nice Bucket challenge receives local and national news coverage on WTHR and in Huffington Post

Read the full release here:

Little Star Center Nice Bucket challenge receives local and national news coverage on WTHR and in Huffington Post

Staff Spotlight: Shelly Will, Center Manager, Little Star Center Lafayette

Shelly has served as center manager at Little Star Center Lafayette  for four years. She handles overall operations regarding the center and communication with families.

What do you most enjoy about your job at Little Star Center?

I enjoy being part of the Little Star team and the learners’ therapy. Some of the therapists ask the learners to come to my desk each day to give me a high five, bring me an item or share a message as part of their therapy. One learner has my photo on his iPad and he presses it when he wants to come to my desk and say hello. I’m honored to be included in their therapy and growth.

What’s the best advice you’ve received?  

The best advice I’ve received is to try not to get emotional about the learners, but this is a challenge, especially when they are frustrated. The mom in me wants to cuddle and reassure them, but I know that’s not always part of the ABA therapy process. Those moments of frustration don’t last long because our therapists do a great job of helping them overcome the challenges — and often make it a priority to stop by and celebrate the learner’s accomplishment.

One thing I want people to know and understand about working with children affected by autism is….

They are wonderful, brilliant and have a great life just like everyone else.

A few other details about Shelly

My husband, Harry, and I have two children Shelby, 17, and Bryce, 8.  I love spending time with my family and my pets. I also enjoy going for walks and camping – as long as I can keep the bugs at bay.

We have two dogs, Teddy and Bear. Get it? Teddy Bear! I also have three cats, Rizzo, and brother and sister Bonnie and Clyde.