Autism therapy provider Helping Hands Family has made a significant move in the industry by acquiring Mission Autism Clinics, a fellow services provider. This acquisition will expand Helping Hands Family’s presence, adding 13 centers to their existing locations in Maryland and Pennsylvania. With centers already operating in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York, Helping Hands Family is solidifying its position as a leading provider of applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy.
The CEO of Helping Hands Family, Fali Sidhva, expressed excitement about the merger, stating that combining the strengths of both organizations will allow them to bring quality ABA therapy to more communities. Mission Autism Clinics, based in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, was founded in 2019 by Lisa DeAngelo and Paul DeAngelo Sr. The provider offers a range of ABA therapy services for children of various ages, including in-center therapy for children ages 2 to 6 and home, school, and community-based care for children, teens, and young adults.
Following the acquisition, Helping Hands Family’s footprint will expand to a total of 38 locations. The company is supported by Zenyth Partners, a private equity firm based in New York City, focused on healthcare investments. While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, Helping Hands Family plans to maintain the patient services and employee roles at Mission Autism Clinics. The locations and teams will remain intact, with plans to enhance staff resources, training opportunities, and operational improvements in the future.
In the coming months, Mission Autism Clinics locations will transition to the Helping Hands Family brand. Previously a portfolio company of Seven Isles Capital, Mission Autism Clinics was led by CEO Paul DeAngelo Jr., who is also an executive at Seven Isles Capital. Helping Hands Family is also investing in the development of new board-certified behavioral analysts (BCBAs) through an 18-month fellowship program. The demand for BCBAs in the autism therapy industry is high, and this program aims to address the shortage by training new clinicians.
This acquisition follows Helping Hands Family’s previous acquisition of Invo Healthcare’s Pennsylvania facilities in August 2023. Invo Healthcare had made the decision to focus on its school-based business, leading to the closure of several in-home sites and centers. As Helping Hands Family continues to grow and expand its reach, it remains committed to providing high-quality ABA therapy services to individuals with autism and their families.
