House of Refuge Becomes Certified Autism Center

MESA, Ariz., July 29, 2019 (Newswire.com) - ​House of Refuge is joining the Mesa Autism Initiative, connecting to an expanding network of organizations that have earned the Certified Autism Center (CAC) designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). A faith-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, House of Refuge has been helping families experiencing homelessness in the East Valley for over 20 years by providing transitional housing and wrap-around support services. These services, coupled with the stability provided by housing, provide families with the foundation and resources needed to achieve self-sufficiency and obtain permanent housing.

Located on 20 acres in southeast Mesa, the House of Refuge community has 88 two-bedroom houses, a donation center where families can shop for household goods, clothing and food, an education and employment center and the Community Center, which provides after-school programming for children. Programming includes tutoring, nutrition and exercise and therapy methods utilizing art, music and pets. In 2017, 604 families called House of Refuge “home.”

Nancy Marion, Executive Director of House of Refuge, recognizes the need and resulting impact of becoming a Certified Autism Center. “According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 59 children will receive a diagnosis on the Autism Spectrum this year. House of Refuge is joining the Mesa Autism Initiative to ensure that we are doing everything possible to pledge that ALL citizens in our community are treated with equality, dignity and respect. As research continues, so does our fight for social justice for the members of the Autism community and their families. Members of the House of Refuge Board, staff and volunteers are committed to joining the Mesa Autism Initiative by obtaining the IBCCES certification in order to better serve ALL the citizens in our community.”

This outlook is shared by IBCCES Board Chairman Myron Pincomb, who says; “We are excited to see House of Refuge taking direct action toward ensuring all citizens of the Mesa community reaching out to their organization will receive the best possible services.”

House of Refuge is also among the growing number of organizations becoming certified in Arizona. This movement is inspired by the work of the Visit Mesa organization and that community’s goal to become the most autism-inclusive in the world.

For almost 20 years, IBCCES has been the industry leader in autism training for healthcare, education and corporate professionals around the globe. IBCCES is the only training and certification program endorsed by Autism Society and focuses on working with industry leaders in the travel, healthcare, and education space to ensure professionals who work with individuals on the spectrum are trained and certified in autism and other cognitive disorders.

IBCCES also created AutismTravel.com and CertifiedAutismCenter.com to serve as resources for individuals and families with children on the spectrum to connect with certified organizations and professionals, as well as each other.

About House of Refuge

House of Refuge is a faith-based non-profit organization offering transitional housing and supportive services to homeless families in our 88 two-bedroom homes. Since 1986, House of Refuge has served over 8,000 individuals to overcome homelessness, become self-sufficient and move toward permanent housing.

About IBCCES

Delivering The Global Standard For Training and Certification in The Field of Cognitive Disorders - IBCCES provides a series of certifications that empower professionals to be leaders in their field and improve the outcomes for the individuals they serve. These programs are recognized around the world as the leading benchmark for training and certification in the areas of autism and other cognitive disorders. As the only training and certification program endorsed by The Autism Society of America, one of the largest grassroots autism organizations in the world, IBCCES is committed to increasing the quality of life and services provided to individuals on the spectrum.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

House of Refuge
​Krista Cardona,
​Marketing Coordinator
[email protected]
480-988-9242 ext. 20

IBCCES
Meredith Tekin, President
Phone: 904.508.0135 / 904.434.1534
​Email: [email protected]

Source: IBCCES