About Us

Intervention Services is a private, non-profit agency that has been meeting the needs of at-risk and dependent children, adolescents and families in central Florida since 1994.

Intervention Services delivers a continuum of services including: in-home, in-school and community based behavior treatment, counseling, traditional, therapeutic and specialized foster care services, adoption services, adolescent group care, independent living, psychiatric services, living skills training and CEU training and Behavior Analyst certification for professionals.

ISI is rooted in the central Florida community, and has spent a decade developing strong relationships with a multitude of other services providers, advocates and volunteers who share our vision for children and for families. Advocacy and collaboration have been critical to furthering ISI's goal of linking youth to supports in their community and developing resources where they are not readily available.

OUR MISSION

To provide high quality, innovative services to assist children and families to achieve their maximum potential for emotional well being, self reliance and stability in the home, school and community.

OUR VISION

Children and families living in Florida will have the skills and tools they need to lead safe, healthy, meaningful and productive lives. Individuals with special challenges will have timely access to effective, quality support and services. ISI will maintain high standards for ethical and professional service provision. Community partners will collaborate to maximize benefit to individuals and the community.

OUR VALUES

We Value:

• The intrinsic worth and potential of all individuals.



• The right of self determination of all individuals in the pursuit of their goals.



• The interdependence of all aspects of an individual's life; emotional, physical, social, spiritual, cultural and intellectual.



• The obligation to provide effective services, of the highest quality in the least restrictive setting to individuals in need.



• The importance of working effectively with community partners to achieve individual and community goals.



• The responsibility to continually reach for new and creative approaches to more effectively meet individual and community needs.



• The importance of relationships in shaping behavior and character.

TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY

Intervention Services has developed services and programs based in the principles of behavior analysis, as well as on the belief that mental health issues are most effectively treated in the community settings where they are occurring. Treatment is based either on a behavior analytic approach or an eclectic model, dependent upon the therapeutic modality that is appropriate for treatment. The behavior analytic approach asserts that behavior is maintained through reinforcement in the current environment. The focus is on identifying what factors are maintaining the problem behaviors and to engineer the environment to support more acceptable behavior. This usually involves teaching parents, school personnel, and residential staff more effective behavior management techniques and developing structured behavioral programs. Eclectic therapy focuses on short-term solution focused treatment outcomes. It includes individual and family therapy to resolve conflicts and promote healthier relationships, thereby reducing behavior problems. In-school therapy focuses on stabilizing behavior in the school setting.

OUR STAFF

The executive staff of ISI consists of:

• Susan Becker, MPA, the Executive Director, who has extensive DCF experience, most recently as the Deputy District Administrator of District 7.



• Sharon Older, Ph.D., BCBA with many years of community based, family focused administrative and clinical experience with at risk and dependent children.



• Tara Hormel, M.A., BCBA who has extensive experience in new program development and in all levels of foster care recruitment, training and support.



• Amy Pounds, MSW who brings administrative and clinical experience in directing the office of Compliance and Quality Assurance.

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