Photo provided by Basics NW
Basics Northwest, a provider of services to children with autism and related special needs, will hold an open house event at its new clinic at 2570 Ocean Avenue in Raymond on Wednesday, August 16, from 5-7 p.m.
Owner and CEO Matt Woodard explained that he started his company in 2012, with their hub office opening in Lacey in 2013. Basics Northwest has since expanded throughout the region, offering services from Seattle to Vancouver. They are the only service provider of their kind between Olympia and Vancouver, Woodard stated, and are working on expanding their practice throughout Southwest Washington.
Woodard, a board-certified behavior analysist with an MA degree in Special Education, said his company's focus is on serving rural and traditionally underserved areas.
"Since we started, I've always wanted to get services back home," said Woodard, who is originally from South Bend. "And we were just finally able to get it going this past year because nothing moves quite as fast as you hope it will."
Basics Northwest works with insurers to provide intervention for kids with autism, and Woodard said treatment can take place at home, in a clinical situation, or at school, depending on circumstances. The company also contracts with school districts to work with certain students. Additionally, they provide professional development services to school districts, teachers, and community agencies in order to help them provide improved support for children with autism and developmental disabilities.
Woodard explained that Basics Northwest places its focus on those whose diagnosis falls within the autism spectrum in part because legislation, lobbying, and case law have mandated insurance companies to cover treatment services. According to Woodard, those with an unrelated diagnosis may have to pursue other avenues in order to gain treatment, such as the Developmental Disabilities Administration, which Woodard said can be difficult.
Basics Northwest employs about 100 people across the 10 counties it serves. Woodard said the Raymond location will probably employ about 7-10 behavior technicians in addition to board-certified behavior analyst Lea Green, who provides supervision locally.
Woodard said finding the right people to put in place can be difficult at times.
"Working in rural communities the challenge is definitely human resource type issues," Woodard said. "The mandate is you have to have a clinical supervisor who is a board-certified behavior analyst and there are very few of those out there, and the majority of them work in more urban areas. There's a need everywhere you go, so a lot of people don't tend to move to the rural communities. We try to build capacity within the communities by targeting folks and getting them trained."
Woodard said the company typically aims to hire its behavior technicians locally. The position requires a high school diploma in addition to 40 hours of training, a state-administered board exam, and state licensure.
In terms of future expansion, Woodard said Basics Northwest is looking at possible future locations in Montesano and Shelton, as well as potentially the southern portion of Pacific County.
As for the challenges that have come with the company's rapid growth, Woodard said, "Once you get the model down, it really just takes working with members of the community."
Typically, there are children in need of the services Basics Northwest provides in every community, Woodard concluded.