DEI

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

They’re more than just words at Hopebridge. Here, we serve and celebrate different cultures, experiences, abilities and voices. Children deserve to see themselves reflected in their care, whether that’s on the pages of books around the center, through the diverse backgrounds of the teams that make their therapy possible, or in the personalized goals tailored to them and their families.

DEI is in our DNA

When Hopebridge founder, Kim Strunk, opened her first therapy center, she did so with an ambitious mission: to increase access to quality clinical care for underserved populations. For the past 20 years, this pursuit has been ingrained in everything we do.

At Hopebridge, we are committed to serving the underserved. With this mission comes great responsibility to be a champion for a more inclusive society. We are dedicated to ensuring Hopebridge is a beacon of hope for all patients and families that access our services and all workforce members that provide our services.

Furthermore, Hopebridge welcomes and celebrates personal background, socioeconomic status, sexuality, race and more. It is within these differences that we find the opportunity to create and cultivate long-lasting, meaningful change for all we have the privilege to serve.

Through authenticity and intentionality we will empower everyone in the Hopebridge circle to harness their unique talents and experiences. Every day we renew our commitment to the actions that will ensure the Hopebridge family reflects the communities we serve and feels safe, uplifted and welcome.

The Hopebridge Diversity Equity and Inclusion Workgroup

Hopebridge’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Workgroup was founded by Nia Flowers, M.S., BCBA, LBA, and Dr. Adam D. Hahs in July 2023. Applications were received from Hopebridge employees across the country from multiple departments who wanted to be a part of the mission the Workgroup was designed to fulfill. The Workgroup is now on its second iteration of members with several members applying to repeat their term on the Workgroup based on their positive experience as a founding member of the DEI Workgroup.

Advancing Cultural Humility

The DEI Workgroup has produced several trainings and partnered with multiple departments to bring DEI initiatives to light. Some of the trainings completed include Hopebridge’s all staff DEI training, Gender and Sexuality in the Workplace, and Belonging in the Workplace.

The Workgroup prides itself on producing valuable information for the field and including strategies that are relevant to daily life, not just behavior health. The Workgroup is continually creating and distributing resources about lesser-known holidays to allow our clinic staff to engage with these diverse topics by reducing the stress of completing additional research on the holiday/topic(s). These resources are distributed monthly and allow staff to curate their own experiences through arts and crafts, discussion topics, ways to involve caregivers and/or guardians, etc.

Children's Books
About Diversity

Celebrating
Neurodiversity

Woman-Founded
Women-Led

Autism Community
Inclusive Language

Serving the Underserved

At Hopebridge, we are committed to ensuring all children have access to high-quality autism care, no matter their background, circumstances or zip code.

The need for greater access to autism services in diverse communities is clear. Research shows that Black children are 19% less likely to be diagnosed with autism and five times less likely to receive early intervention compared to white children¹. Hispanic children are 65% less likely to receive an autism diagnosis than white children, and children in low-income communities are 80% less likely to be identified with autism without intellectual disability than those in higher-income areas.

We are dedicated to changing these statistics. Hopebridge continues to over-index in providing more affordable services to children and families from unrepresented populations, including:

– African American: 38%
– Hispanic: 28%
– Single-parent families: 14%
– Households with 2-4 children: 21%
– Families at or below poverty line: 28%

Even More Ways to Make an Impact

Expanding Perspectives Through Diversity-Centered CE Events
Hopebridge offers free continuing education (CEU) opportunities for clinicians, focusing on key topics like neurodiversity, diverse communication styles (such as AAC and the total communication approach), trauma-informed care, and family support. By investing in ongoing education, we empower our clinicians to provide culturally responsive, inclusive care that benefits not only our team, but also the children and families we serve.

View the Courses

Breaking Barriers to Higher Education
Through partnerships with universities that offer both in-person and online programs across the nation, Hopebridge helps employees and their families access affordable education. By reducing financial obstacles, we create more opportunities for professional growth and workforce diversity in the autism therapy field and beyond.

Honoring Cultures and Traditions
Hopebridge fosters an inclusive environment by recognizing and celebrating a variety of holidays and cultural traditions across our centers and in the home office. From sharing traditions to creating autism-friendly celebrations, we strive to create a welcoming space for children, families and team members of all backgrounds.

Learn More

Other Initiatives

1. Aylward BS, Gal-Szabo DE, Taraman S. Racial, Ethnic, and Sociodemographic Disparities in Diagnosis of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2021 Oct-Nov 01;42(8):682-689. doi: 10.1097/DBP.0000000000000996. PMID: 34510108; PMCID: PMC8500365.