Novata Behavioral Health, a subsidiary of Mental Health Systems (MHS), has acquired the San Diego-based autism organization Center for Autism Research, Evaluation and Service (CARES).

CARES works with individuals with autism diagnoses ages one to adult. Services offered include functional behavior analysis, discrete trial training, social skill builders, counseling, parent education workshops, assessments, therapy and psychiatric support.

With options such as home and school-based programs, the center accepts private pay and insurance-based services throughout California's San Diego, Orange, Imperial and Riverside Counties.

"This is history-making news for us," said MHS President and CEO Kimberly Bond. "The Novata-CARES partnership opens new doors to improving the quality of life for children and young adults with neurodevelopmental disorders and their families."

CARES will now operate under the umbrella of privately operated Novata Behavioral Health. The center has offices in Scripps Ranch, San Juan Capistrano, Temecula and El Centro, Calif.

The addition of CARES will add 140 employees to Novata's current staff.

"There continues to be an increasing need for autism spectrum services, resulting from an elevated prevalence and increased public awareness," said Bond. "As we learned about the CARES philosophy, mission and expertise, it became clear that this opportunity is ideal for us to expand our capacity to serve this population."

CARES co-founder Dr. Kathie Sweeten will serve as vice president of Novata CARES and all autism services. The other CARES co-founder, Dr. Alan Lincoln, is now vice president of Clinical Services with a focus on the Board Certified Behavioral Analysts (BCBA) intern program, Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), outpatient services and research.

The BCBA program teaches clinical psychology to graduate students at all year levels. Students carry out ethical and effective behavior analytic interventions based on published research and designs, while delivering instruction in behavior analysis.

Under Novata's guidance, CARES will continue its support for workforce development in the field of behavioral health both locally and throughout the state.

Individual and family therapy will continue to be available to all CARES patients as well as a variety of social skills groups.

For additional information about programs and services that Novata Behavioral Health offers, please visit www.novatabh.com.

About Novata Behavioral Health

Novata Behavioral Health, a subsidiary of Mental Health Systems (MHS), offers affordable and effective behavioral health treatment options for individuals and families throughout Southern California.

Novata Behavioral Health provides services to privately insured individuals and families throughout Southern California, while drawing upon the extensive resources and clinical expertise of MHS. All services are provided in a client-focused, compassionate manner that underscores its founding values of Integrity, Excellence, Hope, Action, Innovation and Dignity. To learn more about Novata Behavioral Health, please visit: www.novatabh.com.

Novata Behavioral Health
Nicole Murphy, 858-573-2600
nmurphy@novatabh.com
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