In 2025, Community Behavior Consulting, a Mahoning Valley–based behavioral health organization in Canfield, Ohio, navigated workforce shortages and ongoing challenges within Ohio’s Medicaid and commercial insurance systems.
That included restrictive coverage limits and reimbursement pressures that affect access to autism services.
But owner Jen Gonda says the organization continued to expand, opening an Alternative Learning Program within Poland North Elementary School.
“Our program is the only one of its kind in the Valley, providing local school districts with placement options for students with complex behavior and/or developmental needs,” she says.
The organization also added board certified behavior analysts to its Early Intensive Behavior Intervention locations and doubled its Behavior Intervention Coordinator program to support schools facing shortages of behavioral professionals.
Community Behavior Consulting achieved Joint Commission accreditation in 2025.
One of Community Behavior Consulting’s innovations has been becoming a Community Behavioral Health Center, expanding access to integrated mental health services for individuals with developmental disabilities across the lifespan, she adds.
Clinically, 91.6% of clients experienced a decrease in at least one challenging behavior, indicating meaningful improvements in emotional regulation, communication, and adaptive functioning.
Looking ahead, Community Behavior Consulting will continue advocating for House Bill 453, which seeks to remove barriers to medically necessary autism services and strengthen provider networks across Ohio. It also plans to expand its Alternative Learning program to serve more students who require specialized, therapeutic educational environments.
Community Behavior Consulting partners with local school districts, healthcare providers, and community organizations to improve access to care.
Pictured: Community Behavior Consulting supervising clinicians participating at the statewide Ohio Association for Behavior Analysis Conference in March 2025. The are, from left, Brendan Gambrell, Ashley Way, Kayla Armstrong, Jen Gonda, Missy Lucas-Dingus, Jessica Ginart, Ashley Dover, Javanni Harvey and Mark Stein.
