Pipeline: Discovery Behavioral Health Opens New Treatment Program; Spero Health’s Two New SUD Clinics

Discovery Behavioral Health opens eating disorder treatment program

Discovery Behavioral Health (DBH), a multi-state provider of services across the behavioral health spectrum, has opened an eating disorder treatment program for preteens and adolescents in Enumclaw, Washington.

Located north of Seattle, the gender-inclusive program operates under the Center of Discovery brand and treats patients ages 11-17 for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Up to eight patients at a time will be treated in the program.

Group, individual and family therapy services are available for patients, who also have the opportunity to prepare their own meals once it is deemed appropriate for them to do so. Post-discharge services include an alumni app that patients can use to access educational and inspirational resources, as well as support services.

“Studies have shown that eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of all mental health disorders, surpassed only by opioid addiction,” DBH President and CEO John Peloquin said in a press release. “The driving force behind Discovery Behavioral Health is our desire to make evidence-based treatment accessible to all. We work with therapists, payors, patients, and families to raise awareness of eating disorders, provide evidence-based treatment, ongoing aftercare and support for long-term recovery.”

Headquartered in Los Alamitos, California, DBH operates more than 130 centers nationwide that — in addition to eating disorder treatment — includes care for mental health conditions and substance use disorders (SUDs).

The Center for Discovery brand operates eating disorder treatment programs in 13 states. In Washington state, the Center for Discovery has programs in Bellevue, Edmonds and Tacoma, along with its newest one in Enumclaw.

DBH is a portfolio company of Webster Equity Partners.

Spero Health expands footprint

Outpatient SUD treatment provider Spero Health has opened two new clinics in northeastern Ohio.

The two clinics are located in Canton and Sandusky, with both facilities currently scheduling immediate appointments, along with providing walk-in assistance.

The new clinics come as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported provisional data showing that almost 5,500 Ohioans died of drug overdose deaths this March, up 26% from the same period last year.

“It is imperative that we continue to make connections with those that want help, and that we are innovative, responsive, and adaptive in delivering addiction treatment services,” Spero Health Steve Priest said in a press release announcing the two new centers.

Spero Health operates close to 60 facilities across Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and VIrginia, accepting Medicaid and most commercial insurance plans.

Spero Health’s services include medication-assisted treatment (MAT), medication management, behavioral health counseling, recovery support, educational resources for patients and their families.

Spero Health is a privately held company of the Heritage Group, Health Velocity Capital, South Central, Inc. and Frist Cressey Ventures.

Cornerstone Behavioral Health unveils facility expansion

Cornerstone Behavioral Health has announced an expansion to its El Dorado facility in Tucson, Arizona.

The expansion adds 52 beds to the center, allowing for 102 individuals to be treated for acute mental health conditions and SUD.

“Alongside high-quality care, when someone comes to Cornerstone, we’re giving them hope,” Aaron Wilson, the medical director of Cornerstone Behavioral Health El Dorado, said in a press release. “This addition increases our ability to provide life-changing support to patients and their families.”

Cornerstone Behavioral Health is a division of Cornerstone Healthcare Group. Based in Dallas, Cornerstone Healthcare Group operates behavioral health, specialty hospitals and senior living facilities across Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia.

ABA provider welcomes patients to its latest facility

Chicago-based Stride Autism Services, which is a provider of applied behavior analysis therapy (ABA), has opened a new clinic in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The clinic serves youth ages 2-6 and provides one-on-one ABA therapy, which is widely considered to be a gold standard of autism care.

Stride is planning for more clinic locations to open across Nebraska within the next twelve months, including one in Omaha that is scheduled to welcome patients and their families before the close of 2021. Stride operates ABA clinics across Nebraska, Illinois and Iowa.

Stride’s founder and CEO is Brad Zelinger, who is a former investment banker with Moelis & Company. Zelinger was inspired to create the company by his sister, who has a form of autism spectrum disorder known as Rett Syndrome. 

“She is nonverbal, and requires substantial support in everyday activities,” Zelinger said about his sister in a press release, which also announced the opening of the new Lincoln clinic. “I founded Stride so individuals like her can get the effective therapy they need as early as possible to live more independent, joyous lives. As a Midwesterner myself, I’m particularly motivated to bring Stride’s services to underserved communities throughout the Midwest.”