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About Hopebridge

Celebrating 20 Years of Autism Care

In 2025, Hopebridge is commemorating our legacy as one of the largest autism therapy providers in the United States.

A Legacy of Heart & Hope

Since 2005, Hopebridge has been providing life-changing services to communities across the country. It all began in Kokomo, Indiana with a single center which has since grown to hundreds of centers impacting thousands of kids.

History of Hopebridge

Two Decades. One Mission.

Hopebridge is a healthcare provider committed to providing personalized therapy for children and their families as they navigate behavioral, physical, social, communication and sensory differences, helping them live their best lives possible.

Mission in Action

Bridging the Gap in Care

At Hopebridge, we understand children with special challenges require extraordinary care, and we know it puts a lot of pressure on families. Individuals on the spectrum often have needs that can benefit from a wide arrange of therapies, so our extensive team offers a wide range of pediatric outpatient services – all under one roof.

The centers’ interdisciplinary Hopebridge 360 Care model covers a blend of applied behavior analysis (ABA), occupational, speech and feeding therapies in many of our centers, plus autism testing services, insurance support and everything in between.* Care plans center around early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI), which focuses on ages 18 months to 7 years in order to achieve the best possible outcomes. Our licensed professionals conduct evaluations for each of the various therapies to design a custom treatment plan for each child. Each plan also includes family guidance sessions, which serve as a road map for a future filled with possibility.

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History of Hopebridge

Since 2005, our 360 Care has brought life-changing autism therapy services to 1,000s of children and families. See how it all began.

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The Hopebridge Story

Look inside our centers and how they transform hope into reality.

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What is it like to have a child at Hopebridge?

Hear from parents about the successes they discovered at Hopebridge.

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Our Story

2005

It Began with a Real Need

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Expanding Access

More Communities, Bigger Impact

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Awards and Accreditations

Continuing High-Quality Services

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Where Hopebridge is Today

Two Decades of Compassionate Care

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Looking Ahead

Advancing the Future of Pediatric Therapy

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View 2005

One of the first providers of its kind in Indiana.

The story of Hopebridge began in 2005, driven by a passionate occupational therapist—our founder, Kim Strunk. While working closely with children in her community, Strunk recognized a critical gap in essential pediatric services for the autism community, especially for those transitioning from early intervention programs to prepare for school. She saw many families were burdened managing multiple therapy sessions across different locations, making it difficult for children to receive consistent, comprehensive care.

Determined to change this, Kim pioneered an integrated, evidence-based approach rooted in applied behavior analysis (ABA). She founded the first center – originally named Homefront Learning Center in Kokomo – one of the first of its kind in Indiana.

At a time when ABA therapy lacked insurance coverage and widespread recognition, her commitment to serving children and families laid the foundation for what is now Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers. Through perseverance and innovation, Hopebridge was born to bridge the gap in autism care and create better opportunities and outcomes for children and their families.

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Bringing care to more families across the country.

Since its inception, Hopebridge has grown from a single center in Indiana to more than 100 centers across 12 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee. This expansion has allowed thousands of children with autism and developmental disabilities to access essential services closer to home.

Throughout this time, Hopebridge has remained committed to making quality services available to as many families as possible. Hopebridge fought for commercial insurance and Medicaid coverage during its beginnings – and continues its advocacy – so families do not need to forgo services due to financial or systemic barriers.

Research underscores the need for greater accessibility in diverse communities. Black and Hispanic children, as well as those from low-income backgrounds, face significant disparities in autism diagnosis and early intervention. Hopebridge has actively worked to change these statistics, providing much-needed support to underrepresented populations.

Through advocacy and direct action, Hopebridge continues to expand access, ensuring every child gets the opportunity to thrive.

View Awards and Accreditations

Recognized for excellence in autism care.

Hopebridge’s commitment to high-quality, evidence-based care has been recognize through numerous awards and accreditations. For example, Founder and Chief Clinical Strategy Officer Kim Strunk received the IBJ Healthcare Hero Award for Community Achievement in Health Care in 2022, celebrating her impact on autism therapy.

To uphold the highest clinical standards, Hopebridge underwent rigorous evaluation and earned a 2-Year Accreditation from the Behavioral Health Centers of Excellence (BHCOE). This reaccreditation affirms its leadership in ABA therapy.

Hopebridge has also been designated as an Authorized Continuing Education (ACE) provider by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) and an American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Approved Provider. These distinctions have allowed Hopebridge to offer professional development, training, and thousands of continuing education units (CEUs) for clinicians, ensuring the highest level of care for children.

Through these initiatives, Hopebridge not only impacts children and families, but also contributes to the broader field of autism therapy, setting industry standards for quality and innovation.

View Where Hopebridge is Today

20 years of impact, growth and advocacy.

As Hopebridge has spent the last two decades transforming the autism care landscape, this community lives in a much more accessible place. In 2025, Hopebridge celebrates 20 years of dedication, having positively affected thousands of families nationwide.

Currently, Hopebridge serves more than 3,000 children and has processed more than 80,000 authorizations for ABA, speech therapy, occupational therapy and diagnostic evaluations in the past year alone.

The impact of this work is evident in the data:

– 85% of children maintain and expand their skills after therapy1
– 88% caregiver satisfaction rate1, surpassing the national healthcare average2
– 92% of children remain in school after graduating from therapy at Hopebridge1

Through data-driven, patient-centered services, extensive training, research initiatives and clinical innovation, Hopebridge has solidified its place as a leader in autism therapy. Hopebridge is consistently driving the pursuit of better care for all children and families.

View Looking Ahead

Building a brighter future for children with autism and differing abilities.

As Hopebridge marks its 20th anniversary, it remains committed to innovation, growth and advocacy. Looking forward, the organization plans to:

  • Expand access to underserved communities, ensuring every child has the support they need.
  • Invest in cutting-edge research to advance autism therapy practices.
  • Grow its university partnerships and unparalleled Fellowship Program to increase the number of qualified Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), resulting in more access to care.
  • Continue to evolve autism testing, ABA, OT and speech – as well as our teams’ clinical careers – through training and leadership initiatives, like the BCBA Career Pathway, Bridge Program, Outpatient Therapies Mentorship Program and RBT Development Program
  • Lead the transition toward value-based care, focusing on measurable patient outcomes and high-quality services.

With a proven track record and a forward-thinking vision, Hopebridge is dedicated to shaping the future of autism therapy. By expanding its reach, advancing clinical quality, and continuing to advocate for children and families, Hopebridge strengthening our commitment to nurturing inclusion in the communities we serve and beyond.

Join the Hopebridge Mission

Our center-based, one-on-one model does not just create new opportunities for children with autism; it also opens doors for exciting and fulfilling careers. Since 2005, Hopebridge has demonstrated a long-lasting commitment to clinical expertise and leadership in the field of ABA.

Whether it is taking the next step in your profession with an in-house speech or occupation therapy role, or shifting gears on an entirely new behavioral health path by becoming a licensed RBT, join our legacy.

Available roles:

Meet the Team

Adam Hahs

Adam Hahs

Executive Team

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Adam Hahs

Executive Team

Chief Science Officer

Dennis May

Dennis May

Executive Team

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Dennis May

Executive Team

CEO

Herb Senft

Herb Senft

Executive Team

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Herb Senft

Executive Team

Chief Administration Officer

Jana Sarno

Jana Sarno

Executive Team

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Jana Sarno

Executive Team

Chief Clinical Officer

Kim Strunk

Kim Strunk

Executive Team

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Kim Strunk

Executive Team

Founder & Chief of Clinical Strategy

Kyle Brinkworth

Kyle Brinkworth

Executive Team

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Kyle Brinkworth

Executive Team

Chief Financial Officer

Nicole Brennan

Nicole Brennan

Executive Team

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Nicole Brennan

Executive Team

COO

Varsha Nagpal

Varsha Nagpal

Executive Team

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Varsha Nagpal

Executive Team

Chief Accounting Officer

Clinical Advisory Board

Andrew Dreyfus

Andrew Dreyfus

Clinical Advisory Board

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Andrew Dreyfus

Clinical Advisory Board

President and Chief Executive Officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA)

Charles Kennedy, MD

Charles Kennedy, MD

Clinical Advisory Board

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Charles Kennedy, MD

Clinical Advisory Board

Recognized expert in healthcare delivery, finance and information technology with over 25 years of experience as a C-level executive and board advisor at several leading companies.

Elizabeth Lorah, PhD., BCBA-D

Elizabeth Lorah, PhD., BCBA-D

Clinical Advisory Board

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Elizabeth Lorah, PhD., BCBA-D

Clinical Advisory Board

Board Certified Behavior Analyst at the Doctorate Level (BCBA-D). Teacher in University of Arkansas Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis.

George Boghos

George Boghos

Clinical Advisory Board

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George Boghos

Clinical Advisory Board

CEO of Imagine Pediatrics and Founder of Autism in Motion (AIM) Clinics

Ilene Schwartz, PhD., BCBA-D

Ilene Schwartz, PhD., BCBA-D

Clinical Advisory Board

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Ilene Schwartz, PhD., BCBA-D

Clinical Advisory Board

Professor of Special Education at the University of Washington. Director of the Haring Center for Inclusive Education at the UW and the director of Project DATA (Developmentally Appropriate Treatment for Autism).

Jason Helgerson

Jason Helgerson

Clinical Advisory Board

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Jason Helgerson

Clinical Advisory Board

Founder and CEO of Helgerson Solutions Group.

Jonathan Fernand, PhD, BCBA-D

Jonathan Fernand, PhD, BCBA-D

Clinical Advisory Board

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Jonathan Fernand, PhD, BCBA-D

Clinical Advisory Board

Assistant Professor in the School of Behavior Analysis at Florida Institute of Technology

References:

    1. Hopebridge’s 6-month post-transition survey (January 2024-March 2025)
    2. Retently 2024 CSAT Benchmark