THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP

BY KIMBERLY E. RUSCITTI

HOW ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY AND THE NEW ENGLAND CENTER FOR CHILDREN ARE WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE GREATER GOOD

When Jared Bouzan, M.Ed. ’97 started his position as chief development officer at The New England Center for Children (NECC) six years ago, he quickly realized that he had joined dozens of other Assumption University alumni at the organization. It didn’t take him long to recognize why.

“NECC serves and assists children with autism and other developmental disorders in reaching their full potential and living fulfilling lives,” said Bouzan. “The mission of NECC resonates with Assumption alumni. The University fosters the idea of servicing and supporting those in need, and many Assumption alumni take that to heart, even after they leave campus.”

There are nearly 40 Assumption alumni working at NECC, located in nearby Southborough, in a range of departments that include development and human resources, but the majority are involved in the teaching and direct care of students. Each year, a number of Assumption students complete undergraduate internships or a practicum for their master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) at NECC, many of whom stay even after their required hours are complete.

“Being an intern at NECC was one of the best things I could have ever done,” said Amanda Albanesi ’20, a level 2 teacher at NECC and ABA graduate student at Assumption. “I knew I did not want to leave once my internship was over.”

Partners

Two years into her undergraduate studies at Assumption, Albanesi realized she no longer wanted to be a teacher, but someone who worked in a school with children with disabilities whom she could help become more successful. However, she was unsure what path would take her there –until her internship at NECC. “During my internship I learned a lot about ABA and what a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) does,” she said. “Watching my students grow with different skills and abilities just in those few months of being an intern was so amazing. I knew that I wanted to continue to contribute to that growth, and it solidified the career path I wanted to follow.”

After her internship in the fall semester of her senior year, Albanesi began working for NECC part time. After earning her bachelor’s degree in human services and rehabilitation studies, with minors in education and Spanish, Albanesi was hired full time and enrolled in Assumption’s ABA graduate program, where she is now in her second year.

ABA is the science of learning and behavior used to solve socially significant problems and is the only evidence-based intervention available for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Assumption launched its ABA program in 2016 in response to the increasing need for BCBAs and, last June, announced an ABA Fellowship sponsored by NECC that allows students the opportunity to pursue a Master of Arts in Applied

TOP LEFT: New England Center for Children Chief Development Officer Jared Bouzan, M.Ed. ’97. TOP RIGHT: Amir, an NECC student.

BOTTOM LEFT: Karen Lionello-DeNolf, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LABA, associate professor of psychology and director of Assumption’s ABA program.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Amanda Albanesi ’20, NECC teacher and graduate student in Assumption’s ABA program.

Behavior Analysis degree at Assumption while working with research professionals at NECC. The pandemic has only exacerbated the historic shortage of BCBAs and behavior technicians trained to support people with autism, something this fellowship hopes to address.

“There is currently a tremendous need for BCBAs,” said Karen Lionello-DeNolf, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LABA, associate professor of psychology and director of Assumption’s ABA program. “Agencies and schools that serve the autism population are having difficulty being able to serve all clients who could benefit from their services. This partnership with NECC will benefit the community by training students in applied behavior analysis and enabling them to meet the certification requirements, which will ultimately help meet this need.”

According to Prof. Lionello-DeNolf, there are three aspects of the AU-NECC partnership, and students in all three tracks will have the opportunity for continued, full-time employment at NECC after finishing their degree. “This fosters a sense of community and belongingness between the two organizations,” she said. “It also highlights the parallels between the respective missions.”

As part of the Assumption-NECC partnership, those returning to Assumption to receive an advanced degree in ABA are eligible for tuition discounts as well as paid, full-time, supervised practicum placements at NECC. The fellowship invites new students entering Assumption’s ABA graduate program who are not already employed at NECC to apply for a competitive research fellowship program that is being sponsored by NECC. In addition to 50 percent tuition remission and receiving a paid, supervised practicum placement, research fellows complete an applied research project as part of their degree.

“This is an exciting aspect of the partnership because it emphasizes the strong research-to-practice focus that NECC is known for,” Prof. Lionello-DeNolf said. “These students will have the opportunity to work with both Assumption faculty and NECC clinicians on the research project, and they will have the opportunity to showcase their work at regional and national behavior analysis conferences.”

Though this fellowship marks the first official partnership between Assumption and NECC, the schools have enjoyed a decades-long relationship. Susan Sabelli, clinical coordinator for the University’s Department of Human Services & Rehabilitation Studies (HSRS), has been placing students at NECC for more than 20 years.

“The students know that NECC is the best place for children with autism to be and really want to be part of the teams there,” Sabelli said. “Students don’t feel like interns after a while. They really feel like members of the team, and they are treated that way. They really feel like they are part of something special.”

Sabelli explained that NECC staff are extremely supportive of Assumption interns and include them in staff meetings as well as “things they would never have considered possible before, such as data collection for research purposes. They get to see the inner workings of the organization and observe how the other specialists work together,” she said, adding that for students who don’t know what they are looking for, NECC is a great place because they’ll see occupational therapists, speech therapists, other special educators, and ABA in action, helping them make a choice.

“Most of our undergraduate students have not had exposure to ABA in a real-world setting, and NECC is an excellent introduction on how to apply what they have been learning about in the classroom,” shared Prof. Lionello-DeNolf.

She added that NECC makes the perfect partner for Assumption not only because of its commitment to helping children with autism lead rewarding lives within their communities by focusing on all aspects of the person, but also for its commitment to educating staff, parents and families, and the wider community.

“NECC’s focus on service and education parallels that of Assumption’s mission to form graduates known for their intellectual seriousness, thoughtful citizenship, and devotion to the common good,” she said. “The focus of Assumption’s ABA program is to teach students how to use the science of behavior to positively impact the lives of the clients with whom they work. NECC sets the bar on how to do that.”

Lindsay Braith G’19, the first from the ABA graduate program to intern at NECC, described her experience as “nothing short of invaluable.” Now a clinical coordinator/BCBA at HMEA Children’s Services, Braith said her time studying at Assumption and working at NECC prepared her for her successful career.

“Assumption and NECC are such a natural fit due to their commitment to their surrounding communities,” she said. “Assumption places a focus on producing graduates who will provide beneficial services to their surrounding communities. Likewise, NECC plays an integral role in providing necessary services for the central Massachusetts autism community. Both entities place focus on the greater good. Assumption provides hands-on learning experiences for their graduates, while NECC provides an opportunity to utilize their knowledge and practice within the community.”

Bouzan is proud of fellow alumni like Braith and Albanesi. “There is a large group of alumni who have come through here to help children with autism, and even after they leave NECC, they continue to make a difference in the lives of those who need it,” he said. “Assumption alumni make incredible decisions to serve others. We were taught that it’s about more than just yourself, that others need your help, which is why so many students and graduates come to NECC. It’s pretty special to have this connection.”