Self Regional Healthcare donated $100,000 to Project HOPE Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. The funds will go towards opening an innovative center of services for children with autism in Greenwood fall of 2016.

In this center, Project HOPE Foundation will provide the best evidence-based treatment for autism, run behaviorally-based group sessions, and hold training workshops for families and professionals. While this program will be new to Greenwood, it is based on Project HOPE Foundation’s 20-year history of services in the Upstate.

Project HOPE founders Lisa Lane and Susan Sachs say that one-on-one Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism will start in Greenwood this fall. “We have been wanting to bring our services to Greenwood for some time,” said Susan Sachs. “There is a need for programs in Greenwood for children with autism and it just all seemed to fall in place at the perfect time. We now have a building, we have a plan and we are very ready to move forward with the next steps.”

“Through our therapy program, we restore lost dreams,” said Lisa Lane. “ABA therapy is incredibly effective. If started before age three, 86% of the children we serve are able to mainstream into regular classrooms.”

Jim Pfeiffer, President and CEO of Self Regional Healthcare, said, “The exciting news is made even more so with the Genetic Center in close proximity working on a test to achieve early diagnosis of autism, a service that often results in regulated behaviors for children with the disorder. Self Regional is proud to be a part of the wonderful new addition that will help so many children and families.”

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About Self Regional Healthcare: Self Regional Healthcare is a not-for-profit, regional referral hospital that provides care to residents of Greenwood, Abbeville, Laurens, Saluda, McCormick, Edgefield and Newberry counties. Services include prevention and wellness, acute care and tertiary care services including cancer care, neurosurgery, heart and vascular surgery, NICU, orthopedics and genetics. Self Medical Group is its employed physician affiliate network of 32 practices and more than 113 physicians.

About Project HOPE Foundation: Project HOPE Foundation’s mission is to lead the way in providing a lifespan of services for the autism community by: Helping families, Opening minds, Promoting inclusion and Expanding potential. Programs include therapy, education, trainings, family support, social groups, adult services, and employment. For more information, please visit our website: www.projecthopesc.org.