Acorn Health - About Us - ABA Therapy Services

New hope for this generation of children with autism

Acorn Health is a standard-setting family of ABA treatment providers

Our behavior analytic professionals develop, apply, and share the latest advances in the science of ABA, always focused on data and outcomes. Acorn Health providers combine proven best practices with pioneering, evidence-based next practices, engaging whole families.

The human brain has a remarkable ability to change and adapt. We work with children of all ages and as young as 18 months. The earlier we create new behaviors and skills, the stronger they are.

A growing Acorn Health Network



Acorn Health operates locations in Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia.

People seek out those that share their values, and here are ours

Values matter: they’re a constant in a world that’s always changes. The best employees want to work with companies who share their beliefs, and that is true for parents who entrust us with children they love.

We are authentic

Authenticity

We present our true, consistent selves. Everyone hungers for genuine connections.

We are accountable

Accountability

We keep our promises, and can be trusted with the life and future of a child.

We are a team

Teamwork

The best outcomes are produced by people who collaborate with enthusiasm.

We are always adapting

Growth

We know the needs of children and their families are unique and ever-changing.

We move quickly

Hustle

In autism care and treatment, time is always of the essence. We do things now.

Our Vision

Acorn Health is driving autism therapy forward with our careful combination of ABA best practices and our pioneering next practices

Acorn Leadership

A track record of health care transformation

Acorn Health was founded by a team with rich and varied experience navigating the health care landscape, and delivering excellent patient care and experiences. The company is backed by Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), the administrator of Canada's largest single-profession pension plan.

  • Richard Hallworth

    Chief Executive Officer and President

    Richard Hallworth

    Rich is a veteran healthcare executive with nearly 30 years of leadership experience. In addition to leading Acorn Health as CEO and president, he currently serves as chairman of the board of directors for two other healthcare organizations – ViaQuest, Inc., a provider of residential and long-term support services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and Advanced Care Partners, a provider of home-based care to medically fragile patients.

    Hallworth’s past experiences include chief operating and chief executive officer roles at Corizon, the nation’s largest provider of privatized correctional health services at the state and local levels, that employed nearly 15,000 physicians, nurses, mental health and dental providers, as well as other allied healthcare and support personnel. Prior to this position, Hallworth served in chief operating and chief financial roles at Tuft’s Health Plan, a healthcare insurance company with more than 700,000 members.

    Educated at Bentley University, Hallworth chairs the board of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation. He has previously served as chairman of the boards of Bradford Health Services, PhyMed Healthcare Group, DenMat Holdings LLC, Caregiver, Inc., and several charitable organizations.

    In addition to his role as Acorn’s CEO, Hallworth is also a member of its board of directors.

  • Krista Boe, M.A., BCBA

    Chief Clinical Officer

    Krista M. Boe

    Krista has been practicing as a BCBA since 2008, with a focus in Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Disabilities, and Organizational Behavior Management.

    Before joining Acorn Health, Krista served dually diagnosed individuals at an Intermediate Care Facility, and as an independent consultant in a community waiver-based setting. Krista was a board member for the Heartland Association for Behavior Analysis, and the Nebraska Association for Behavior Analysis. She began her work with Autism Centers of Michigan (ACM), an Acorn Health Company, in 2015, as Clinical Director of Northern Michigan operations, and later served as Chief Clinical Officer. In 2018, Krista was appointed to the Michigan Autism Council, representing certified behavior analysts throughout the state.

    She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Biology from Central Michigan University, and a Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University.

  • Don Borchert

    Chief Financial Officer

    Don is a financial leader with more than 25 years of financial and operational experience, with more than half of that focused in the health care sector with scaling organizations. Don brings experience streamlining accounting practices, strengthening organizational revenue, and improving business practices and metrics.

    Before coming to Acorn Health, Don was the CFO for a specialized fertility organization and previously served as the CFO and COO of a multistate dermatology group headquartered in Maryland. During his tenure Don provided guidance and oversight for several acquisitions, resulting in dozens of new locations while simultaneously improving business operations and critical practice management components for the health care practices.

    Don holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Texas at Dallas.

  • Whitney Jones

    SVP, Marketing and Client Acquisitions

    Whitney Jones

    Whitney is passionate about connecting people with the care they need to improve and enrich their lives and the lives of their families. She has nearly twenty years of experience in marketing and leadership expertise across industries but would say that the last decade in the healthcare sector has been the most meaningful both personally and professionally.

    Prior to joining Acorn Health, she served as the Director of Enterprise Digital Marketing and E-Commerce at Cardinal Health where she designed and implemented digital marketing strategies, directed thought leadership programs and led a global email marketing team. Previously, she held a VP of Marketing role with Laser Spine Institute, where she helped drive expansion through national marketing campaigns and supporting the patient experience through digital programs.

    Whitney earned her bachelor’s degree in advertising from the University of Florida and has a master’s certificate in marketing strategy from Cornell University.

  • Vicki Kroviak

    Founder and Board Member

    Vicki Kroviak

    Vicki brings passion, personal history and a history of serving families in need to her mission: to establish Acorn Health as the leading provider of Applied Behavior Analysis treatment for children with autism and their families.

    She is a Brené Brown Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator and is applying those principles to building the company and team she’s always dreamed of: developing a team of daring leaders and fostering a courageous workplace culture within Acorn Health. As a mission-focused leader, ‘why you do it’ is just as important for Vicki as what you do.

    Vicki was previously the Chief Executive Officer of Monte Nido & Affiliates and co-founder of Oliver-Pyatt Centers, leading providers of residential eating disorder treatment. Vicki co-founded the Residential Eating Disorder Treatment Consortium, a national trade organization that brought together and inspired residential eating disorders treatment providers to collaborate and raise industry standards, and insure greater access to care for affected families.

    Vicki approaches behavioral health treatment as both a provider and a mother, delivering the standard of care she would want for her own children. The mother of three daughters, one of whom has special needs, Acorn’s mission strikes close to home.

Advisory Board

We’ve invited thought leadership, advice, and oversight

Acorn has assembled a Clinical Advisory Board, led by Gregory P. Hanley, Ph.D. Dr. Hanley has been applying the principles of learning to improve socially important behaviors of children and adults with and without disabilities for over 30 years. Aside from his role as CEO of FTF Behavioral Consulting, Dr. Hanley currently serves as a Research Professor at Western New England University (WNEU) and an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He's worked and trained others at the Spurwink School, the Groden Center, the Kennedy Krieger Institute, WNEU, and the University of Kansas.

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