Award-winning Autism Therapy Provider Poised for Rapid Expansion to Serve the Unmet Needs of Children with Autism
LOS ANGELES — September 12, 2018 — Alternative Behavior Strategies, (ABS), a leading provider of services to children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, announced today that Adam Singer, M.D., has been appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer for the company.
“Dr. Singer’s track record in growing young companies to leadership positions in rapidly expanding markets will be invaluable to ABS,” said David Fitzgerald, Partner, Petra Capital Partners, which, along with MMC Health Services, purchased ABS in 2017. “More and more states are mandating coverage of services for people with autism, especially children. To serve this growing population, ABS’ integrated psychological care model brings together families, physicians and behavioral analysts to help provide children with the most comprehensive care possible.”
Dr. Singer is nationally known as a pioneer in the field of hospital medicine. He founded IPC Healthcare in 1995 and served as its CEO for two decades. The firm became the largest hospital medicine company in the U.S., employing 1,800 clinicians and serving millions of patients. The company went public in 2008 and was acquired by TeamHealth in 2015.
“Finding better ways to serve a population in need inspired me to join the mission-driven leadership at ABS,” said Singer. “This mission has never been more important than it is today. There is a huge need for quality services in this field that also integrate with ongoing medical care in order to bring a coordinated approach for autistic children and their families. As insurance coverage expands, more children will be able to receive treatment. ABS brings a proven quality and service delivery model, along with the ability to scale quickly, that positions the organization to be at the cutting edge and become the leading provider in this field.”
Autism is one of the fastest growing developmental disorders. About 1.7 percent of children—one in 59—are now believed to have Autism Spectrum Disorder, up from an estimated rate of 1.5 percent in 2016, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children who start treatment early in life progress more rapidly in their growth; however, many children do not have access to applied behavioral analytics therapy, the preferred method of treatment.
Jeff Skibitsky, MA, BCBA, LBA, a behavioral therapist and autism advocate, founded ABS in Utah seven years ago to expand the range of options and services for children with autism and their families. In his current role as President, he oversees all clinical initiatives for the company, including service delivery, recruitment and training for therapists.
“Dr. Singer’s unparalleled expertise and perspective in helping companies grow will add to our capabilities to provide the full range of in-home and center-based therapy services to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, including speech and occupational therapy,” noted Skibitsky. “With the addition of Dr. Singer to our team, we will expand our capacity for growth and be able to serve many more children and families.”
About Alternative Behavior Strategies
Alternative Behavior Strategies (ABS) is dedicated to providing services to children with developmental delays and their families. The company provides wrap around care enabling children and their families to obtain the services they need in one place. Services include applied behavior analysis (ABA), and speech therapy and occupational therapy designed to complement ABA services, as well as diagnostic evaluations and social skills groups. ABS operates centers in California, Utah and North Carolina. ABS is designated as a Top Behavioral Service Provider by the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence. For more information: https://www.abskids.com/
About Petra Capital Partners
Petra Capital Partners is a Nashville, TN-based private equity firm engaged in providing growth capital for healthcare, technology and business services companies located throughout the United States. Petra’s team specializes in partnering with outstanding management teams to provide creatively structured capital solutions for high growth companies in a collaborative manner. Petra has a proven track record of success assisting entrepreneurs, management teams, and co-investors in building sustainable high-growth companies. Petra’s record spans 20+ years investing more than $650 million in over 100 companies. For more information, please visit www.petracapital.com.
