Easterseals Awarded Highmark Delaware BluePrints for the Community Grant

New Castle, DE – Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore announced that it has received a grant from Highmark Delaware BluePrints for the Community to offer children under the age of three with autism Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy.

“This grant from Highmark Delaware will make a huge impact in the lives of some of our smallest participants with autism and their families,” Easterseals President/CEO, Kenan Sklenar, says. “Research shows that the greatest gains in developmental milestones for children with autism are seen through ABA therapy when intervention is started before the age of 2 and this grant helps make that possible. We are grateful for the partnership with Highmark Delaware and especially pleased to receive the BluePrints for the Community grant. Partners like Highmark Delaware help Easterseals continue to offer exceptional services that our community relies on.”

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy programs help increase language and communication skills; improve attention, focus, social skills, memory, and academics by focusing on teaching new skills. Family education and support is also a critical component when working with very young children. Studies show, when ABA therapy starts before the age of two, the therapy is even more successful.

“We are pleased to award Easterseals with a BluePrints for the Community grant and to support their extensive work with children and families living with autism,” said Nick Moriello, President of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware. “Easterseals has an outstanding history of providing care for our community and Highmark Delaware is proud to partner with them on this program.”

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware serves approximately 441,000 members through the company’s health care benefits business. It is an influential company in the market generating an economic impact of $135 million and supporting more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs across the state. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit www.highmarkbcbsde.com.

BluePrints for the Community is the donor-advised fund of Highmark Delaware at the Delaware Community Foundation. It was established in 2007 to serve the healthcare needs of Delaware, with emphasis on, but not limited to, meeting the needs of the uninsured and underserved, reducing health care disparities in minority communities, developing the health care workforce and addressing challenges associated with social determinants of health.

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Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore offers a range of services, including children’s therapies, assistive technology, recreational camping, day programs for adults with physical or intellectual disabilities, and respite services for caregivers. To learn more about how Easterseals helps children and adults with disabilities, call 1-800-677-3800 or visit www.de.easterseals.com.