Certifynd ABA

Acorn Health - Autism Centers of Michigan

place Traverse City, MI 500+ employees

warning

This company is backed by private equity (Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board (since 2021; previously MBF Healthcare Partners 2018-2021))

Private equity ownership may impact company culture, benefits, and long-term stability. Review employee sentiment and risk analysis carefully.

shield Overall Risk Level

warning Medium Risk

Risk Flags

flagPE-backed by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board since 2021 (previously MBF Healthcare Partners 2018-2021)
flagAggressive acquisition-driven growth strategy (Autism Centers of Michigan, Concord Foundations, ABC's of ABA, Breakthrough Behavior, Autism University, A&C Behavioral Solutions, Braintrust, Sandcastle Centers)
flagCenter closures and layoffs of regional management in January 2025 affecting ~25 employees
flagPregnancy discrimination lawsuit filed September 2024 (Hernandez v. Acorn Health of Michigan, LLC - Eastern District of Michigan)
flagCEO turnover: 3 CEOs plus 1 interim CEO in 7 years (Kroviak 2018-2022, interim Widmann 2022-2023, Hallworth 2023-2025, Iyer 2025-present)
flagVery low employee recommendation rate (30% on Glassdoor)
flagReviews consistently cite focus on billable hours over clinical quality
flagGlassdoor rating declining - compensation/benefits rating decreased 9% in last 12 months

Legal Issues

gavelHernandez v. Acorn Health of Michigan, LLC et al (2:24-cv-12431) - pregnancy discrimination, harassment, retaliation, FMLA violations, FLSA nursing mother provisions (filed Sept 2024)

Ethical Concerns

policyReviews mention ethical concerns being ignored when raised to management
policyReviews cite number-driven culture prioritizing billable hours
policyPregnancy discrimination lawsuit alleges denial of reasonable accommodations
BBB RatingA+

psychology Employee Sentiment

4.0

out of 10

Management4.0
Culture4.5
Flexibility4.0
Compensation3.5
Career Development5.0
Work Environment4.5

thumb_up Common Praises

  • add_circle Great coworkers and meaningful work with children
  • add_circle Good training systems and professional development programs
  • add_circle BCBAs generally report better experience than RBTs
  • add_circle Career advancement pathways available (RBT to BCBA)
  • add_circle Strong accreditations (BHCOE, ACQ)

thumb_down Common Complaints

  • remove_circle Low pay relative to workload, especially for RBTs
  • remove_circle No guaranteed hours - client cancellations directly impact income
  • remove_circle Poor management and broken promises during hiring
  • remove_circle Hustle culture with emphasis on billable hours over work-life balance
  • remove_circle High turnover among RBTs and BCBAs
  • remove_circle Supervisors and clinical leads treating BTs disrespectfully
  • remove_circle Cliquish environment and management gossip