MITCHELLS PLACE INC

At Mitchell's Place, we strive to unlock the potential of individuals affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder by providing quality diagnostic, educational and therapeutic services. Mitchell's Place is a cutting edge, evidence-based center that is committed to providing a nurturing environment aimed at improving the quality of life for our clients and families.

To continue our progress and success of unlock a child's full potential, we have developed three strategies, identified in our Strategic Plan, that will further the mission of Mitchell's Place.

Strategy One: Diversify and increase revenue. This strategy would allow us to expand and improve various programs. We plan on accomplishing this strategy through the following avenues: Pursue grants that are outside our city and state, partner with universities and other organization to write grants that provide services in the community and to the underserved so that we can seek nationwide grants; work with school systems to contract with Mitchell’s Place to provide services not offered by the school system; offer in-home services to our current clients and when possible to others in the community; work with school systems to professionally develop their paraprofessionals, special education teachers and general education teachers, and many more.

Strategy Two: Actively pursue expansion. This strategy is a long-term goal that will increase collaboration as well as awareness and services for Autism Spectrum Disorder. To accomplish this we have become a Medicaid provide and continue to actively pursue an alignment of programs and services with a local major university and/or the local children’s hospital in order to increase reimbursement rates and serve more families living with autism. We have also made expanding Autism Education in the community a high priority.

Strategy Three: Explore, and possibly pursue, a Capital Campaign. This has been a 15 year dream in the making and, if possible, will change the landscape of Autism care and services for the entire state of Alabama. In order to pursue this strategy we plan on conducting a Feasibility Study in 2021.

Mitchell's Place has numerous strengths that support its ability to provide outstanding services. Among these strengths are its unique product offering, mission driven staff and its culture and community. Mitchell’s Place’s highly qualified staff has an expertise in autism that is unrivaled in the community. They are well trained and provide a setting for our families that allows children to thrive and grow. The growth of our applied behavior analysis therapy program has allowed Mitchell’s Place to not only provide more services, but additionally to move out into the community to help families and school systems. The staff provides a safe, loving environment for children and are committed to helping each and every child. This commitment creates a culture and community for our families that would not exist otherwise. Furthermore, an added benefit is the commitment of Mitchell's Place to work with other organizations to form a continuum of services for individuals on the autism spectrum, which fosters community among families on the spectrum and other providers.

Previous Measurements of Success - Mitchell’s Place develops programs based on research and best practice, with a commitment to data-driven outcomes. As a cutting edge, evidence-based center, Mitchell’s Place is committed to providing a nurturing environment aimed at improving the quality of life for students and their families. Instructional focus, teaching methods, and materials are rooted in the principles of ABA. Mitchell’s Place has a full-time BCBA staff for intensive and on-going staff training, as well as assisting with problem behavior assessment, intervention, and data collection. The ELP implements a research-based early learning curriculum called Mother Goose Time. Mitchell’s Place also utilizes Handwriting Without Tears, a multisensory curriculum that draws from years of innovation and research to provide developmentally appropriate strategies for early writing. Also implemented is Social Communication, Emotional Regulation and Transactional Support (SCERTS). SCERTS is a research-based educational approach and multidisciplinary framework that directly addresses the core challenges faced by children and persons with ASD. All students are evaluated by teachers, counselors, and other therapy providers to measure gains in all areas of development. Each student is evaluated quarterly to assess progress related to IEP goals with a goal of at least “some progress made” on each section. Each child is assessed via the VB-MAPP or ABLLS-R annually as well. No matter age, any child who exits the ELP program is given an exit assessment through the Battelle Developmental Inventory-Second Edition to measure a variety of development milestones. All students in the Pre-K 4 program are evaluated for Kindergarten Readiness at the end of the Pre-K year.

Additionally, all Mitchell’s Place teachers and counselors meet with school staff for each child’s kindergarten placement to ensure new kindergarten IEPs are comprehensive and based on goals worked toward during time at Mitchell’s Place, and to share ideas regarding best classroom behavior and learning style practices for each child as he/she transitions to kindergarten. Also, at the end of the Pre-K 4 program, all parents complete a Kindergarten Readiness Survey, which was designed by UAB’s School of Public Health for all Alabama students who participated in Alabama’s First Class Pre-K program. In addition, for younger students not headed to kindergarten, Mitchell’s Place sends out parent surveys each year to measure parents’ satisfaction with the education and therapeutic services provided by the organization as well as their perception regarding gains their child has made related to cognition, social skills, gross/fine motor development, and kindergarten readiness.