Refer a patient

Supporting providers. Empowering families.

Houston Empowering Minds Youth Service is one of the leading providers of pediatric ABA therapy for children with autism. ABA therapy is a well-established, evidence-based approach focused on addressing the core challenges of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), supported by decades of scientific research demonstrating its effectiveness.

Houston Empowering Minds Youth Service partners closely with providers and families in the communities we serve. Together, we work toward a shared mission of helping children with autism reach meaningful developmental milestones.

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How to refer a patient

At Houston Empowering Minds Youth Service, partnering with community healthcare providers is central to our mission of expanding access to evidence-based autism services. Our dedicated referral team is available to help expedite provider referrals and can be reached via fax, email, or through our secure, HIPAA-compliant provider portal. The portal provides a centralized and secure way to submit new referrals and track the status of previously referred patients.

Allow us to handle the details

  • Contacting the family.
    A member of the local Houston Empowering Minds Youth Service team will reach out within 24 hours to gather additional information and determine next steps based on the child’s diagnostic status.
  • Verifying insurance.
    Houston Empowering Minds Youth Service verifies insurance eligibility and benefits on behalf of the family. If coverage is not available, we help connect families with helpful resources.
  • Scheduling the first appointment.
    We do not use waitlists. Initial appointments are scheduled as quickly as possible.
  • Updating referring providers.
    For patients referred through the Houston Empowering Minds Youth Service provider portal, real-time status updates are available.

Our autism services

Diagnostic support services

We support providers by helping to evaluate young patients for possible autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through online screeners and face-to-face assessments conducted by qualified clinicians. Comprehensive assessment results are sent to you to support diagnostic decision-making and care planning. Our diagnostic support services include:

  • Online screening tools (e.g., M-CHAT-R, CAST)
  • Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd Edition (ADOS-2)
  • Initial Diagnostic Evaluation (IDE)

Evidence-based HEMYS therapy

Applied behavior analysis (HEMYS) therapy is a medically necessary treatment for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Clinical outcomes consistently show that HEMYS supports meaningful developmental progress and long-term gains in the adaptive and foundational skills children need to succeed in naturalistic classroom environments. Skills we help with include:

  • Communication
  • Social skills
  • Emotion regulation
  • Adaptive living skills
  • Reduction of target behaviors (e.g., aggression, self-injury, elopement)

How do we provide HEMYS therapy?

HEMYS therapy for children with autism at Houston Empowering Minds Youth Service is delivered at an intensity of 20 to 40 hours per week. Therapy is individualized, uses play-based techniques, and is grounded in the latest clinical research and best practices. We use two core HEMYS methods to support functional skill acquisition and long-term generalization for children with autism:

Discrete Trial Training (DTT)

Targets foundational behaviors by breaking tasks into discrete, teachable units.

Natural Environment Teaching (NET)

Supports independence and school readiness through real-life situations.

Center-based therapy

In a playful and engaging environment, children with autism work 1:1 with a clinician to reach individualized goals through a combination of Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT) and Natural Environment Teaching (NET), promoting skill acquisition and generalization.

HEMYS at Home

Houston Empowering Minds Youth Service at Home provides play-based learning in a home setting. Children with autism work 1:1 with a clinician who focuses on developing adaptive and foundational skills and how to apply what they’ve learned to real-life situations. Available in select markets.

HEMYS Academy

Houston Empowering Minds Youth Service Academy is specifically designed for school-age children with autism, ages 5–12. We offer both part-time and full-time HEMYS therapy in this setting to help children develop essential social and executive functioning skills. Available in select markets.

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