What does it take to build a truly integrated, person-centered model of autism care?
In the latest episode of Hi Rasmus & Friends, host Amy Cook sits down with Dr. Breanne Hartley and Dr. Steven Merahn from UNIFI Autism Care to unpack the story behind whole child care—and what it means to design systems that reflect the full complexity of children’s needs.
From Parallel Paths to a Shared Vision
Dr. Breanne Hartley discovered applied behavior analysis (ABA) more than 25 years ago through an undergraduate practicum that “lit her fire.” Since then, she’s built a career dedicated to clinical excellence, professional integrity, and giving back to the field—now serving as President of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB).
Dr. Steven Merahn, a pediatrician and systems innovator, began his career in early childhood public health, where he learned the power of interprofessional collaboration. Over time, he grew passionate about bridging medicine and behavioral health to serve children with developmental and complex needs better.
Their paths converged while serving on the Autism Commission on Quality‘s standards committee. Through those conversations, a shared vision emerged:
What if autism care could fully integrate medical, behavioral, and family perspectives—supporting the whole child, not just their diagnosis?
Building Whole Child Systems
That idea became UNIFI Autism Care, a practice grounded in collaboration and outcomes that matter. Based across Indiana, UNIFI provides applied behavior analysis integrated with pediatric and family supports.
At the heart of UNIFI’s approach is a commitment to child-centered developmental domains—communication, social interaction, adaptability, and overall wellbeing—rather than isolated skill targets or deficit-based frameworks.
“Behavior analysts have a great baseline of expertise,” says Dr. Hartley. “But we’re better together with other professionals.”
Teams regularly reach out to pediatricians, neurologists, and other providers to align goals and ensure care plans complement rather than compete. Families are equally central, shaping treatment priorities through shared decision-making and continual collaboration.
Measuring What Really Matters
One of Dr. Merahn’s key insights is distinguishing between response to treatment and true outcomes.
“If a child’s social skills score improves from a two to an eight, that’s not an outcome—that’s response to treatment. The outcome is how they use those skills in real life.”
At UNIFI, progress is measured not by therapy hours or session counts but by independence, participation, and family confidence—the outcomes that endure beyond childhood. The team also emphasizes using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to align ABA with broader healthcare standards and speak a common language across disciplines.
Redefining Value in Autism Care
Value-based care is a term often used but rarely understood. For UNIFI, value means shifting from “more hours equals more care” to “better outcomes equal better value.”
“Families don’t come to us asking for therapy hours,” says Dr. Hartley. “They come asking for outcomes that matter.”
By redefining value around real-life progress, UNIFI is helping reshape how autism care systems think about quality, integration, and success.
Focusing on the Child in Front of You
As the episode closes, both guests reflect on what it means to focus on the child in front of you. For Dr. Merahn, it’s about being fully present and attuned, even when that presence feels “a little too much.” For Dr. Hartley, it’s about pausing to meet each child where they are—resisting one-size-fits-all approaches and honoring each child’s individuality.
“Never lose sight of your why,” she says. “Stay grounded in compassion and in the reason you started this work.”
🎧 Listen to Episode 21: “The Story Behind Whole Child Care with UNIFI” — now streaming on the Hi Rasmus & Friends podcast.
Learn more about UNIFI at unifiautismcare.com.
