Appropriations Requests for : Hope Network Behavioral Health Services

1. Cosponsoring legislators:

• Sam Singh
• Michael Webber

Recipient Information

2. Intended legislatively directed spending item recipient:

Hope Network Behavioral Health Services

3. Physical address of legislatively directed spending item recipient and the intended location of the project or activity:

3075 Orchard Vista Drive Southeast PO Box 890 Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

4. The recipient's employer identification number:

382763522

Funding Details

5. Requested amount of the legislatively directed spending item:

$800,000.00

6. What is the purpose and how does the legislatively directed spending item provide a public benefit that is an appropriate use of taxpayer money?

Approximately 1 in 31 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Despite the prevalence, many children in Michigan wait between six months and two years to receive a formal diagnosis. A primary contributor to these delays is the limited number of providers trained to administer the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2), the gold-standard diagnostic tool. An ADOS-2 diagnosis is often essential to unlocking access to critical healthcare services, therapeutic interventions, and educational supports. To address this urgent need, we respectfully request an appropriation of $800,000 to Hope Network to expand diagnostic capacity statewide. These funds would support comprehensive ADOS-2 training for a broad range of qualified professionals, including psychologists, pediatricians, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, nurse practitioners, licensed professional counselors, psychology doctoral interns, and postdoctoral fellows. By increasing the number of trained diagnostic providers, we can significantly reduce wait times and ensure children receive timely access to essential services. In addition, Hope Network will utilize a portion of these funds to train clinicians in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based behavioral parent training intervention shown to improve outcomes for children with autism and their families. This initiative will prioritize sustainability by preparing clinicians to become certified trainers within their respective agencies, thereby expanding access to high-quality behavioral supports across communities. Investing in diagnostic capacity and evidence-based interventions will not only improve outcomes for children and families but will also strengthen Michigan’s healthcare and educational systems through earlier identification and more effective intervention.

7. Has the legislatively directed spending item previously received or been awarded any of the following types of funding in the past 5 years?

No previous funding received

8. Estimated time frame for completion of the legislatively directed spending item project:

request is on-going funding

Additional Information For Nonprofit Corporations

9. Is the recipient a nonprofit corporation?

Yes

4. Officers and active members on the board of directors:

Matthew Heynen (Chair), Patrick Miles, Jr. (Vice Chair), Gavin Mohr (Treasurer), Dr. Thomas Svitkovich (Secretary), Anthony Chang, Ph.D., Lynn Ferris, Sandi Judson and Jennifer Jurgens.

Certification By Sponsoring Legislator

• "I certify that my immediate family members, legislative staff members, and I have no direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the requested legislatively directed spending item."
• "I certify that the intended recipient of this legislatively directed spending item is not a for-profit entity."
• "I certify that the information in this form is true to the best of my knowledge."

Senator Sam Singh