Michelle O’Connor-Teklinski, LMSW, joins Judson Center as Director of Autism and Disability Services - Judson Center

Michelle O’Connor-Teklinski, LMSW, joins Judson Center as Director of Autism and Disability Services

Media Contact: Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; barbara@eafocus.com; 248.260.8466; Susan Salhaney, Judson Center, Susan_Salhaney@judsoncenter.org; 248.837.2015

Farmington Hills, Mich. — December 17, 2020— Judson Center, a multi-county human service agency that provides autism programs, behavioral health services, child and family services including foster care and adoption in tandem with its affiliate, Child Safe Michigan, employment services for persons with disabilities, and primary healthcare for all ages, is pleased to announce that Michelle O’Connor-Teklinski, LMSW, has joined the organization as the new director of both Autism  and Disability Services.

As Director of Autism Services, O’Connor-Teklinski will ensure a continuum of care for individuals with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families at the program’s four locations in Royal Oak, Ann Arbor, Farmington Hills, and Warren, and oversee the program’s educational and support services including applied behavior analysis services (ABA), parent trainings, sibshops and additional events and workshops.

O’Connor-Teklinski will also assume the role of Director of Disability Services from Brad Ewing, who is retiring from Judson Center on December 31 after eight years of dedicated service. She will be responsible for working with community mental health, state vocational rehabilitation, and public education entities to deliver integrated support for individuals needing disability services in employment and skill building, as well as families needing respite care for a child with a disability.

Prior to joining Judson Center, O’Connor-Teklinski served as Executive Director, Statewide Autism Services, at Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Hope Network, where she managed the Center for Autism at five locations and developed a partnership with Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and the College of Research, Autism, Intellectual and Neuro Development Disorders to support diagnosis and research of autism. O’Connor-Teklinski also worked for Beaumont Healthcare System’s Center for Exceptional Families (CEF) in Dearborn, Mich., where she advanced in a variety of roles, starting from social worker, case manager, and manager of physician practices, to serving as associate director and director, and seeing completion of CEF’s $2.5 million Autism Center in 2017.

“Judson Center is delighted to have Michelle O’Connor-Teklinski on board as our new director of Autism Connections and Disability Services,” said Judson Center President and CEO Lenora Hardy-Foster. “Michelle’s proven leadership in implementing clinical and educational services for children with autism, coupled with her ability to develop action-oriented partnerships with community stakeholders and donors, will enrich Judson Center’s specialized autism and disability services as we seek to equip individuals and families with opportunities for meaningful personal engagements and contributions.”

O’Connor-Teklinski earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Social Work from Wayne State University. She is a graduate of the National Leadership Institute on Developmental Disabilities at the University of Delaware, holds a LMSW in the State of Michigan with both clinical and macro designations, and is a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Provider.

O’Connor-Teklinski has served on several boards including the Center for Exceptional Families Executive Board as a Staff Representative and the United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)/Metro Detroit Executive Board as Vice Chair; and has been a member Michigan Behavior Analysis Provider Association.

 

About Judson Center

Judson Center, trusted by Michigan families for more than 95 years, is a non-profit human service agency that provides expert, comprehensive services that strengthen children, adults and families impacted by abuse and neglect, autism, developmental, behavioral and physical health challenges so they can achieve whole health, well-being, and maximum potential. Judson Center also offers integrated primary healthcare for all through Judson Center Health in Warren and is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). Since opening its doors in 1924, Judson Center has grown to change the lives of over 12,000 children, adults, and families each year. Judson Center has offices in Genesee, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. Headquarters are located at 30301 Northwestern Highway, Suite 100, Farmington Hills, MI 48334-3277.  Learn more at https://www.judsoncenter.org/.

 

 

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