“Collaboration.”
The word was used repeatedly at the Feb. 9 ribbon cutting of the Arc of the Ozarks’ new Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center to describe the efforts to expand autism services in the Ozarks.
It began about 10 years ago, when the Arc of the Ozarks, Mercy Springfield and Missouri State University agreed southwest Missouri families shouldn’t have to travel across the state in order for their kids to get a screening and diagnosis for autism.
The operation started small, offering two to four diagnostic tests a month.
“We soon began to realize we needed something bigger to address the need,” Mike Powers, president and CEO of the Arc of the Ozarks, said at the Feb. 9 ribbon cutting.
Over the years, the partnership expanded its services, but the clinic really began to take shape when leadership at Arc of the Ozarks began advocating in Jefferson City to take the program to the next level.
Fast forward to 2024, the new Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center could provide multidisciplinary assessments to upwards of 500 individuals a year. In addition to diagnostic evaluations, the clinic offers behavioral analysis, psychological/psychiatric services, and speech, occupational, physical and specialty therapy services.
Located at 2864 S. Nettleton Ave. in Springfield, the center opened its doors to patients on Jan. 2, and was celebrated by hundreds on Feb. 9.
“Today is just the beginning,” said Matt Morrow, president of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. “A lot of really amazing things are going to happen.”
Bipartisanship funds a growing partnership
While Mercy and MSU remain core partners in the venture, a host of other organizations and individuals have contributed to the growing collaborative.
Dr. Kyle John, the medical director of the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center, said they’ve already worked with Burrell Behavioral Health, which provides autism services of its own, as well as CoxHealth and the Jordan Valley Community Health Center.
“Anybody that wants to partner with us and help us take better care of this population in this part of the state that the door is open to them,” Dr. John told the Hauxeda.
The facility itself was made possible by contributions from private donors, a federal grant and $5 million from the Missouri General Assembly, an award that was spearheaded through both chambers of the legislature by Rep. Alex Riley, R-Springfield, and Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, along with support from the rest of the Springfield metro area’s delegation of legislators.
“As we were navigating the process and trying to support these efforts in the House, it was anything but certain that this was going to happen. We ran into a lot of opposition from very high places from the House and around the state,” Riley said at the ribbon cutting.
Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, commended the bipartisan collaboration between the Springfield lawmakers, calling the clinic a “true testament of what southwest Missouri is.”
In addition, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, through the Moving Missouri Forward Foundation, donated more than $46,000 to furnish exam rooms and buy therapy equipment for the clinic’s gymnasium. The foundation, established by Missouri First Lady Teresa Parson in 2002, supports kids across the state through a variety of programs.
In addition to covering some ongoing expenses, the initial funding helped buy the $2 million building, and pay for $2.2 million in renovations and $500,000 in equipment, according to Tim Dygon, executive vice president of the Arc of the Ozarks.
Fundraising will continue to help provide services for kids whose families are uninsured or need help, a cost slated to be covered in next year’s state budget, according to Dr. John.
While the new facility will serve as a hub for southwest Missouri, existing operations in Joplin and Branson will allow families to come to Springfield for the diagnostic process, but receive services closer to home.
The clinic is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday-Friday. More information can be found on the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center's website.
