Hope Network acquires Developmental Enhancement Behavioral Health

Overview

Updated Sep 24

Hope Network, a Grand Rapids nonprofit serving 30,000+ Michiganders, has acquired Developmental Enhancement Behavioral Health. The deal expands access to autism therapy for families in West Michigan.

Hope Network already runs a Center for Autism with four locations across the state. This acquisition folds Developmental Enhancement's behavioral health practice into that operation, adding capacity at a time when demand for applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy outpaces supply.

Why it matters

Expanded ABA capacity means fewer West Michigan families wait months on autism therapy lists—and signals continued consolidation among Michigan behavioral health providers.

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Key Indicators

30,000+

People served annually by Hope Network

Across Michigan, spanning health care, housing, transportation, and workforce services.

Hope Network Center for Autism locations

Serving learners ages 18 months to 21 years; the DE acquisition adds more capacity.

1963

Year Hope Network's precursor was founded

Started as a sheltered workshop at Pine Rest Christian Hospital, now a $100M+ human services nonprofit.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Bob Von Kaenel

President & CEO, Hope Network

Leading Hope Network through the acquisition

Herb Start

First CEO (historical)

Founded Hope Network's precursor at Pine Rest

Organizations Involved

Hope Network

Nonprofit

Acquirer; integrating Developmental Enhancement Behavioral Health

Grand Rapids nonprofit delivering behavioral health, autism, neuro rehabilitation, housing, and workforce services to 30,000+ Michiganders.

Developmental Enhancement Behavioral Health

Behavioral health provider

Acquired by Hope Network

West Michigan behavioral health practice specializing in autism services, now folded into Hope Network's Center for Autism.

Timeline

1963 September 2026

5 events Latest: September 24th, 2026 · 2 months ago

Tap a bar to jump to that date

September 2026
Hope Network acquires Developmental Enhancement Behavioral Health
Latest Acquisition

Grand Rapids nonprofit adds a West Michigan autism therapy provider to its Center for Autism.
September 24th, 2026
Waitlist-free autism openings announced in Livonia
Operations

Hope Network promoted immediate autism therapy openings in Livonia, signaling expanded capacity system-wide.
September 24th, 2026
July 1990
Hope Network invited to ADA signing
Milestone

Organizational leaders attended the Americans with Disabilities Act signing at the White House.
July 26th, 1990
January 1984
Hope Network becomes independent nonprofit
Structural

Separated from Pine Rest Christian Hospital, with Herb Start as first CEO.
January 1st, 1984
1963
Sheltered workshop founded at Pine Rest
Founding

Adjunctive therapy department established; becomes Hope Network's precursor.
1963

Scenarios

Hope Network integrates DE Behavioral Health into Center for Autism

Likely Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: WOODTV and local healthcare observers

Hope Network consolidates Developmental Enhancement's staff and client roster into its existing Center for Autism operation. Families keep their providers, waitlists shrink in West Michigan, and Hope Network's market position as the region's dominant autism services provider strengthens. No major disruptions reported within the first year.

Autism service expansion hits staffing shortage

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Healthcare workforce analysts

Demand for board-certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) and registered behavior technicians (RBTs) outpaces supply, limiting how many new clients Hope Network can serve despite the acquisition. The nonprofit may hold openings on waitlists or reduce service hours, despite having absorbed more capacity.

Hope Network makes another behavioral health acquisition

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Michigan nonprofit sector watchers

Flush with momentum from this deal, Hope Network continues its consolidation strategy, acquiring another small Michigan behavioral health or autism provider within 15 months. The pattern mirrors its earlier acquisitions of New Passages and Michigan Education Corps, reinforcing its position as a statewide human services juggernaut.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2000s

Hope Network acquires New Passages (mid-2000s)

Hope Network acquired New Passages, Inc., a behavioral health company serving southeast Michigan, expanding its reach beyond Grand Rapids.

Then

Immediately widened Hope Network's behavioral health footprint across the state.

Now

Established a template of buying smaller providers to grow reach without building capacity from scratch.

Why this matters now

This DE Behavioral Health deal follows the same playbook—absorb a regional specialist to fill a service gap under the Hope Network umbrella.

July 1990

Americans with Disabilities Act signing (1990)

President George H.W. Bush signed the ADA into law, banning discrimination against disabled Americans. Hope Network leaders were invited to the ceremony at the White House.

Then

Prompted providers across Michigan to expand community-based services for disabled adults and children.

Now

Created sustained demand for autism and behavioral health services that continues to outpace supply today.

Why this matters now

The ADA's legacy of community integration is the reason ABA therapy and autism services are now standard care—and why providers consolidate to meet demand.

2010s-2020s

National ABA provider consolidation (2010s-2020s)

Across the U.S., private equity firms and large nonprofits acquired hundreds of small applied behavior analysis clinics, seeking economies of scale in a growing autism therapy market.

Then

Many independent ABA practices were absorbed by regional or national chains.

Now

Care quality and wait times now depend heavily on corporate priorities rather than local clinicians.

Why this matters now

Hope Network's acquisition is a nonprofit variant of this national trend, consolidating West Michigan autism care under one organization.