At Hand Over Hand, your child is never just a diagnosis. We take the time to get to know their individual strengths and needs, so treatment reflects what will help them grow and learn.
Rockaway families can receive care through our Jefferson center at Little Learner Academy. Here, children work in dedicated therapy classrooms while also having planned opportunities to build skills during preschool activities and time with peers.
Families stay closely involved throughout treatment, since parents often notice things about their child that help shape our recommendations. Skills learned in therapy are designed to carry over into daily routines at home and in the community, not just within the classroom.
Rockaway, NJ Families can expect:
Christine Wieladek
Christine is the Regional Director of Hand Over Hand’s Denville and Jefferson centers. She has been working in the field of ABA since 2006 and holds a Master’s degree in ABA from Caldwell University. Christine became a BCBA in 2011 and has held positions across a variety of settings (public schools, private schools, group homes, home/community, and centers) working with clients ranging from 18 months to 70 years of age. She specializes in creative and compassionate development and implementation of behavior reduction and skill acquisition programming as well as staff and parent training. Outside of Christine’s work at Hand Over Hand, she is the proud mom of two competition dancers and loves to spend time with her family, including her pets!
Melissa Simone
Melissa is the Assistant Director of the Jefferson Center and has been a BCBA with Hand Over Hand since May 2024. Melissa earned her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling in 2020, followed by a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2023 from Caldwell University. In 2024, Melissa’s thesis research was published in the Journal of Behavioral Education and was presented at the Association for Behavior Analysis International annual conference. Melissa’s strong clinical background in both mental health counseling and applied behavior analysis allows her to provide compassionate, evidence-based care to individuals and their families.
The right kind of support varies from child to child. That’s why Hand Over Hand provides ABA services in center-based settings, as well as at home and school, so care can reach your child where it’s needed most.
Rockaway families can access center-based ABA services at our location inside Little Learner Academy. Children receive ABA therapy in dedicated treatment classrooms, with planned opportunities to build skills during preschool activities and time with peers.
Home-based ABA therapy gives children the opportunity to build skills within their everyday routines. Sessions are built around each family's priorities, from communication and personal care to everyday moments like mealtime and play.
Hand Over Hand can also work with educational teams when additional ABA expertise is needed at school. Services may include classroom observations, Functional Behavior Assessments, consulting, and recommendations related to the student’s individual needs.
We absolutely love Hand Over Hand! Their team truly tailors their approach to meet the unique needs of each child and family. They use naturalistic teaching methods that help children thrive and succeed in meaningful ways. The staff is incredibly welcoming, flexible, and supportive, creating a positive experience for the entire family. We have seen tremendous progress in our daughter since starting with them, and we are so grateful for their dedication, support and care.
I was very nervous about my son being away from me for the first time but this center has been amazing. The staff is so friendly and really cares about him. He has had so much progress since he started. He really enjoys going there, loves all of the staff and runs to the door every morning.
Patient, kind and caring staff. I have such peace of mind knowing my son is in capable hands with this loving team. Our son is making progress and our whole family feels supported by Hand Over Hand.
Not sure where to start? You don’t need to know exactly which service your child needs before reaching out. Our team will get to know your child and recommend next steps based on a clinical evaluation, your family’s preferences, insurance coverage, and availability.
Contact us today at 973-722-9693 to learn more about ABA therapy for Rockaway families and the steps involved in getting started.
Your journey with Hand Over Hand begins with a personal conversation. Our Family Liaison takes the time to connect with you, learn about your child, and answer any questions you may have before anything else begins.
Once we have connected, we will guide you through the necessary paperwork so that the logistics are handled quickly and easily. Our goal is to make this step as simple as possible so services can move forward without delay.
Before we begin, we contact your insurance provider to obtain approval to assess your child. Once authorized, we can move forward with scheduling the in-person portion of the assessment.
Our clinical team spends dedicated time with your child conducting an in-person assessment, while also meeting with your family to understand your goals and priorities. From there, we develop individualized goals and a personalized treatment plan built specifically around your child.
Once the treatment plan is complete, we submit everything to your insurance provider for authorization, handling the process on your behalf so there are no unnecessary delays before therapy begins.
With all the pieces in place, it is time for the most exciting step. Your child begins therapy and your family becomes part of the Hand Over Hand community.
We understand that starting ABA therapy comes with many questions and concerns.
Our team takes the time to understand your child’s needs, verify your insurance coverage, and make sure every detail is in place before ABA therapy begins.
Building trust and open communication from the start is our priority, so you feel confident and prepared for the journey ahead.
Rockaway families can access Hand Over Hand’s Jefferson center inside Little Learner Academy at 21 Bowling Green Parkway in Lake Hopatcong, NJ.
Treatment priorities are developed after an assessment of your child’s current abilities, communication, routines, family priorities, and areas where additional teaching may be helpful. The plan is reviewed as your child progresses.
Home-based ABA therapy may be available depending on your child’s clinical recommendations, insurance coverage, family circumstances, staffing, and current availability.
ABA therapy may address communication, play, transitions, self-care, daily routines, classroom participation, social interaction, safety, and independence. The specific skills selected are different for every child.
Parents and caregivers provide important information about how their child communicates, handles routines, and uses developing skills outside of therapy. Family guidance can also provide practical ways to encourage those skills during everyday activities.
Hand Over Hand’s Jefferson center operates within Little Learner Academy, but the appropriate type of service depends on your child’s clinical needs and treatment recommendations. Our intake team can explain how the Integrated ABA Center works and discuss the options available to your family.
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