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Services & Programs

Heartland Center for Autism offers two specialized treatment programs that are designed to support and nurture each individual which includes Applied Behavior Analysis, Social Skills Training, Didactic Therapy, Music and Art Therapy:

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Short-Term Program - up to 90 days

Treatment Program - up to 12 months

We also provide several Around-The-Clock care to

ensure our children are kept on the right path to success engaging in a safe and supportive environment where they can explore their emotions, enhance their communication skills, and foster self-awareness.

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1:1 Staff to Child Ratio
During Waking Hours

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Parent Education

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Psychiatric
Care

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Medication
Management

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Psychological Service

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Individual & Group Therapy

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Nursing
Assistance

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Trauma Informed Care

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ABA Therapy
During Waking Hours

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(CBT) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 

Around-The-Clock Care Services

Our Programs

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Applied Behavior Analysis

ABA is an initial analysis performed by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) that reviews the patient’s skill set. This helps us to design a therapy program that is custom to each patient.​

​Please note: If a client is currently receiving ABA therapy, that treatment and Behavior Intervention Plan will be reviewed, considered and components maybe incorporated into the Heartland Center for Autism treatment plan. Our clinical team will collaborate with our clients current providers to ensure the success and clinical progress while at Heartland Center for Autism.

Naturalistic Teaching

Naturalistic teaching strategies, also known as incidental teaching or child-centered teaching, are instructional techniques used in ABA therapy that aim to create a learning environment that closely resembles everyday life. These strategies emphasize the child's interests, motivations, and initiations, allowing for personalized and meaningful learning experiences.​

​The core principle of naturalistic teaching strategies is to utilize the child's natural environment and capitalize on their intrinsic motivations to promote learning. By incorporating activities and materials that are relevant and interesting to the child, these strategies foster engagement and enhance the child's ability to acquire new skills.

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Discrete Trial Training

DTT is a structured ABA technique that breaks down skills into small, “discrete” components. Systematically, the trainer teaches these skills one by one. Along the way, trainers use tangible reinforcements for desired behavior. For a child, this might include a candy or small toy.​

​Many therapists have found DTT to be particularly effective for teaching skills to children with autism. DTT was one of the very first interventions developed for autism and has extensive research supporting it.

Social Skills Training

SST is a common intervention that helps people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) improve their social communication, interaction, and understanding. The goal is to help people with autism develop the skills they need to interact with others and enhance their social confidence. ​

​SST can help people with autism in many ways, including: Improving speech and language skills, Becoming more independent, Supporting educational and employment success, and Navigating social situations with greater ease

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Picture Exchange Communication

The Picture Exchange Communication System®, or PECS®, allows people with little or no communication abilities to communicate using pictures. People using PECS® are taught to approach another person and give them a picture of a desired item in exchange for that item. By doing so, the person is able to initiate communication. A child or adult with autism can use PECS® to communicate a request, a thought, or anything that can reasonably be displayed or symbolized on a picture card. PECS® works well in the home or in the classroom.

Didactic Therapy

Didactic Therapy, also known as psychoeducational therapy, is a form of therapy that uses an educational approach to help people understand and manage a condition or disorder. Didactic treatment can be used for a variety of conditions, including substance abuse, borderline personality disorder, and other mental health issues.

Didactic treatment often involves group sessions led by a therapist or counselor. These sessions can include discussions, lectures, workshops, and creative exercises. The goal of didactic treatment is to provide psychoeducation and help people develop the skills they need to manage their condition. 

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Pivotal Response Training

​Pivotal Response Training (PRT) is a research-based, naturalistic intervention designed to improve social, communication, and behavioral skills in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

​The Benefits of PRT is: Improved social communication and interaction skills, Enhanced motivation and engagement, Reduced disruptive behaviors, and Increased self-awareness & independence.

Art Therapy

Art Therapy for autistic children at the Heartland Center for Autism is a transformative and enriching experience. Through the power of creative expression, children engage in a safe and supportive environment where they can explore their emotions, enhance their communication skills, and foster self-awareness. Our skilled art therapists utilize a variety of art mediums to encourage self-expression, improve focus, and promote sensory integration. From painting to sculpting, every art session is tailored to individual needs, allowing each child to discover their unique strengths and abilities. Through the therapeutic process, children with autism can find joy, develop confidence, and unleash their creative potential. Discover the profound impact of Art Therapy at Heartland and embark on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth.

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Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a short-term, goal-oriented type of psychotherapy that helps people learn to identify and change negative thinking patterns. CBT is based on the idea that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are related, and that changing one can improve the others.

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In CBT, a patient and therapist work together to develop a treatment plan and coping skills. The therapist focuses on the patient's current life and how to move forward, rather than what caused their difficulties.

Music Therapy

Music therapy can help children with Autism improve their social skills, communication, and other areas. Music therapy can also help regulate their emotions and sensory systems.

How it works​

  • Music as a stimulus: Music can be more engaging than verbal stimuli for people with ASD.

  • Structure and predictability: Music's structure can help children feel secure and anticipate what's coming next.

  • Multi-sensory stimulation: Music provides auditory, visual, and tactile stimulation, which can help organize sensory systems.

  • Emotional expression: Music can help identify and express their emotions.

  • Brain stimulation: Music is known to stimulate both hemispheres of the brain, which can help with cognitive functioning.

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Music Class

Call Now for Assistance... (877) 99.AUTISM  (877) 992. 8847

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Heartland Center for Autism is 100% funded by Medicaid. We continually add new Community Mental Health Agencies throughout Michigan via Contracts and Single Case Agreements. We also serve consumers through the MDHHS AGAO Adoption Subsidy.

PLEASE NOTE: Should you be denied services to Heartland or have trouble getting authorization to Heartland, your CMH may not be aware Heartland Center for Autism is a covered Medicaid benefit, please see May 12, 2023 memo from the state of Michigan clarifying and confirming our services. Please do not hesitate to contact us or ask your CMH to reach out directly.

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