The recipient entity's physical address:
           7784 Innovation Park Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70820

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           7784 Innovation Park Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70820

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Colleen Waguespack

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  4705

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $100,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Deanna Whittle
CEO
19220 North Shore Court
Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Shelton Jones
Executive Director
17925 Prestwick Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Sarah Olcott Allen
17839 British Lane
Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Colleen Waguespack
6648 Millstone Ave
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Nathan Irby
1471 Ashland Drive
Baton ROuge, LA 70806

Will Owens
7356 Richards Drive
BAton ROuge, LA 70809

Valerie Schexnayder
8380 Columbia Court
Baton ROuge, LA 70817

Andy St. Romain
12755 Frankfurt
Baton Rouge 70816

JOhnnie Bond
9770 Highland Road
BAton ROuge LA 70810

Stephen Cangelosi
3199 Twelve Oaks Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Jody Montelaro
446 North Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Arthur Scanlan
43629 Woodhollow Drive
Prairieville, LA 70769

Drew Tessier
11221 Belvedere
Baton ROuge, LA 70808

Beau Wolfe
648 Pasture View Drive
BAton ROuge, LA 70810

Paige Dampf Wormser
14758 Villa Court Drive
BAton Rouge, LA 70810

Anthony O'Connor
1548 Rosemont Drive
BAton Rouge, LA 70806

Stephen Mumford
14005 Memorial Tower Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           Emerge empowers children with autism and individuals with communication challenges to achieve independence through an interdisciplinary therapy program within an innovative educational model.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $350,000
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $0
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $600,000

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          No

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          Emerge is the Gulf South's largest regional provider of therapy and education for children with autism and individuals with communication challenges. Our guiding principle is to serve families regardless of their ability to pay.

The Emerge Foundation provides philanthropic support to both The Emerge Center and The Emerge School.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          The Emerge Center’s history has its roots as Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation (BRSHF). Founded in 1960, BRSHF provided support to adults and children with communication challenges, primarily in the areas of speech therapy and audiology. In the 1980s, BRSHF added a new program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other social delays, which provided intense intervention in a preschool group setting. This was the first therapeutic program for children with ASD of its kind in the region. In the 2000s, BRSHF began providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), which is a play-based ASD therapy, and conceived its programs for children with ASD through a partnership with Louisiana State University’s Department of Psychology. BRSHF soon began earning a national reputation as a top-tier early intervention therapy provider, serving as a beacon of hope for families across the Gulf South.

While demand for our services grew, we were still operating out of a 9,000 square-foot building with limited capacity for expansion. Rebranded as The Emerge Center, our new, larger facility opened in 2014. In our expanded space, we were able to fully build out a comprehensive and collaborative interdisciplinary model in which our therapists coordinate treatment across services and in partnership with parents. The Emerge Center serves about 1,800 clients each year.

Driven by our innovative spirit and dedication to meeting the needs of our community, we launched The Emerge School for Autism in 2018. Formed to serve elementary-aged children within the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, the school extends our continuum of care and allows children with ASD to prosper in an environment tailored to their needs. In 2020, construction on a stand-alone school on The Emerge Center’s campus was completed, and we currently serve 48 children with ASD in kindergarten through third grade at full capacity. The school is the first and only public charter for students with ASD in the state of Louisiana, and one of only a handful nationwide.

Coordinated Care Model
Children with ASD have the best chance of success when therapy begins early. Thus, the cornerstone of our work is an early intervention model that carefully addresses multiple issues simultaneously. This innovative approach integrates therapists, psychologists, and families into a single team with the child at the center. It’s Deanna’s isn’t a fan of “one-stop-shop” language – maybe an “efficient” approach that is invaluable to families, many of whom have had to act as their child’s care coordinator, thereby forcing them to become experts in educational policy, the healthcare system, early intervention, as well as insurance law, much of which varies by state. Our streamlined care model allows families to see better results and experience far less stress.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           1 year

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 none
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 none

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 n/a

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  none

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               none

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               none

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                none

          What is the nature of the relationship?  n/a

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 none

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               none


Contact Information
name:  Shelton Jones 
                                       address:  7784 Innovation Park Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70820
                                       phone:  225-439-9700
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  sjones@emergela.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Executive Director