Today we’d like to introduce you to Janine Howe.
Janine, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always had a passion for working with children and thought that I would be an elementary school teacher. I was majoring in education in college when I volunteered for a program called Daybreak. Every Saturday, parents could drop off their child with special needs and any siblings for a three-hour break in the middle of the day. The program organized activities, arts and crafts, a snack, and each child was paired with a volunteer for the day.
Many of the children who attended the program were on the Autism Spectrum. I took quite an interest in the special needs population and volunteered to run Daybreak the following year. Following this, I spent my senior year working for a company that provided home-based services to children with autism and fell in love with the students, families, and work that I was doing. I discovered the value and importance of a quality Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program and immediately changed my major to psychology.
Following graduation, I pursued a Masters degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Northeastern University while working full time as an ABA therapist. I made it my mission in life to start a company that focussed on quality, home-based services for children with autism and related disabilities and in 2012, I did just that. In addition to providing quality services, it has always been my goal to grow and foster a workplace environment that gives employees a voice, reinforcers that we are a cohesive team, and lends itself to motivating each and every employee to be the absolute best that they can be.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As with any business, there were countless struggles along the way but each one served as an opportunity to develop a better system, improve a training, add a new policy, and become a better company. I take such pride in the business that we have built and the services that we provide and when a parent is not happy, I truly take their concerns and criticism to heart. Just like in life, it would be impossible to please every single person that we cross paths with but I can certainly try!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Foundation Lane – what should we know?
The team at Foundation Lane is committed to providing quality behavioral services to typically developing children and children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder or other developmental delays who are between the ages of one and six. Our mission is to teach children and families behavioral techniques that increase appropriate social behaviors, improve academic skills, decrease problem behavior and maximize the child’s independence. We follow the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to develop naturalistic teaching opportunities, truly individualized curriculum and creative programming.
The services we provide include one-on-one behavioral therapy, parent education, serving as an aide in private preschool classrooms, a generalization of learned skills to a community setting, private school staff training, private consultation, toilet training, and assistance with sleep training.
We are committed to forming a close professional relationship with each child and family and giving them the confidence that each child is capable of learning.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My family and friends have supported this company and my mission from the very beginning and I am forever thankful to them.
I am incredibly thankful for each and every person that has worked at Foundation Lane. We have truly had the most committed, passionate, and hardworking individuals as a part of our team and I am thankful for each and every one of them. Together we have improved the lives of countless children and I am so proud of our work.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2020 Commonwealth Ave Suite 220 Newton, MA 02466
- Website: www.foundationlane.com
- Phone: 508-688-4695
- Email: jlane@foundationlane.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Foundation-Lane-LLC-556210154538511/
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