Empowering Children and Families with Compassionate, Research-Driven CareOur center is dedicated to providing Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) services and specializes in behavioral programming for children from infancy. Located in northern Frederick County, Maryland, our center aims to support families from the surrounding communities in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Viriginia.
For more information, please email bluepeakcenter@msmary.edu or call (301) 447-5090
Our new, state-of-the-art facility is located at:
343 South Seton Avenue
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
To enhance the lives of children with behavioral needs through exceptional care and evidence-based treatment, while empowering families with education and support.
At the Blue Peak ABA Center, we understand raising a child with behavioral needs is both challenging and rewarding. Our center is located in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and serve clients from Frederick, Carroll, Montgomery and Washington counties in Maryland as well as Adams and Franklin counties in Pennsylvania. Blue Peak ABA Center is dedicated to providing Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) and specialized behavioral programs for children from infancy.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a scientific approach to understanding behaviors and promoting meaningful change for those we serve. ABA is recommended by the U.S. Surgeon General, amongst other experts, to make meaningful change in individuals with autism. ABA is comprised of evidence-based techniques which use data to drive treatment decisions and achieve the best outcomes for your loved one.
ABA is individualized, and therefore treatment will look different depending on your child’s needs. During these sessions, your child will develop critical communication and social-emotional skills that will maximize their independence and improve their ability to regulate when faced with challenging or unexpected situations. The goal of ABA is to teach your child how to utilize these skills in any environment and with different people. The intervention also teaches your child how to learn from their environment in the absence of ABA services.
The Little Mountaineers program is our early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) program for children ages 6 and under who have not yet entered kindergarten. Your child will work one-on-one with our dedicated staff members to develop his/her communication, social, and adaptive skills through both individual and group activities. Our program incorporates activities such as circle time, art, and movement activities to best prepare your child for preschool or kindergarten settings.
We at the Blue Peak Center for ABA know that it truly takes a village to raise a child. We want to support your child’s “village” through our dedicated caregiver training program. Caregivers Learning to Improve Behavior (CLIMB) group trainings are offered to the families of our clients seeking strategies to best support their child’s needs. These trainings are provided in addition to the individualized caregiver trainings and will cover a broader range of topics. This will also offer families an opportunity to connect with other families in our center.
We understand that navigating coverage for your child’s ABA services can be stressful. We want to help you access ABA services, and can accept many common insurance plans, listed below:
If you don’t see your insurance listed here, or are planning to self-pay, please reach out to see if we can support your needs. Our dedicated team will help you navigate any concerns you have about accessing quality ABA therapy for your child.
Blue Peak Center for ABA is more than a care facility; it's a community where children learn, grow, and thrive. Contact us today to learn more about our services or to schedule a visit. Let us be a part of your family's journey to a brighter future.
At this time, all prospective clients must come with a diagnosis of autism and recommendation for ABA services from an outside provider. We will ask for your diagnostic evaluation report as part of your intake. If you are looking for a diagnosis, we are happy to recommend some diagnosticians in the area.
We accept most major insurance plans. If you are unsure if your plan covers ABA, we are happy to verify your benefits before moving forward in our intake process. If you do not see your plan listed or if your plan does not cover ABA insurance, we can talk about what your options are, including self-pay or filing your own claims.
As part of Mount St. Mary’s University, the Blue Peak Center for ABA is dedicated to ongoing research and evidence-based practices. Our practitioners are always seeking the best ways to support you and your family. The staff and students that work within our facility are invested in the long-term success of your family, both through our comprehensive ABA services and commitment to high-quality caregiver training programs. Our program emphasizes supervision and training practices to ensure every individual working with your child has the supports they need to coach your child effectively. Contact us to learn more about how our talented team can help you and your child reach new heights.
Once we receive a request for contact from you, one of our talented clinicians will reach out to schedule a consultation meeting. During this meeting, we will ask for your insurance information and to verify that your child has received a diagnosis from a qualified healthcare professional with a recommendation for ABA services listed in the report. We will also discuss your child’s current needs to determine if our center is the best fit for them at this time. From there, we will schedule an initial assessment with you and your child. Our assessments aim to determine your child’s current communication and social skill levels while identifying any undesirable behaviors your child engages in. This information is summarized in a report and reviewed with you to determine our recommendations and next steps in treatment planning.
We do not employ any speech or occupational therapists. We do, however, allow community providers to perform these therapies within our space. If your child is enrolled in therapy with an outside provider that is unable to travel to our location, we are happy to coordinate your child’s care to ensure you can continue both services.
All services are housed within our center; we currently do not offer in-home or community-based ABA services. We do, however, work closely with local service providers and school districts to help your child transition when they are ready to move on.
Center-based services offer a consistent daily schedule which is designed to maximize your child’s potential for learning. This schedule contains dedicated time to focus both on individual goals and group activities which will help your child form meaningful relationships with their peers. Group activities and play ensure our children can learn and explore together! Our center combines instructional and play-based learning opportunities to keep your child engaged all day long. Additionally, we can guarantee at least one BCBA is always on-site, ensuring your child receives effective and ethical care at all times. Our schedule and emphasis on professional development supports staff retention ensuring your child a consistent continuum of care. Contact us to learn more!
A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is an individual certified to design, evaluate, and train others to implement ABA services. BCBAs are required to have a master’s degree in ABA, Psychology, or Education in addition to at least 1500 hours of supervised fieldwork experience working within the field of ABA. Once they have earned their master’s and accumulated all of their supervision experience, the candidate will then sit for an exam to assess their knowledge. Once certified, BCBAs must seek continuing education in ethics, supervision, and ABA techniques to maintain their competence.
A Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) is an individual who works directly with children in the field of ABA. RBTs are required to have at least a high school diploma and complete a 40-hour training sequence discussing critical ABA techniques. They must then pass both a skill competency assessment and written exam to verify their understanding of these techniques. They must receive ongoing supervision from a BCBA regularly to maintain their skills. While not all direct support staff in ABA have to seek the RBT credential, our facility supports all employees in obtaining and maintaining this credential.