Devereux gets $250,000 to bolster Behavioral Health workforce. HARRISBURG, PA - Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health will receive a $250,000 state grant to support a workforce development program aimed at recruiting and retaining behavioral health professionals in southeastern Pennsylvania as demand for services strains the region's labor pool. Discover more Demographics Criminal Law City & Local Guides The funding will support Devereux's ASCEND Career Accelerator, a program launched in 2023 to strengthen recruitment and retention in behavioral health care. The sector relies on clinicians, nurses, teachers, and direct care professionals to serve people with autism spectrum disorder, mental health needs and cognitive differences. Demand for those services has increased, according to state Reps. Jennifer O'Mara and Lisa Borowski, both Delaware County Democrats. The lawmakers, who serve as chair and vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus Southeast Delegation, respectively, advocated for the state funding. "The ASCEND program has shown promising results, but sustaining this vital program requires financial support," O'Mara stated. "The Southeast Delegation advocated for this grant, and I'm proud to be part of the effort to bring it back to Southeast Pennsylvania." The grant targets a workforce constraint that can directly affect providers' ability to meet demand for behavioral health services. ASCEND is designed to expand the pipeline of workers while improving retention among people already pursuing careers in the field. "Every family deserves to know that when a loved one needs behavioral health services, there will be skilled, caring people nearby to provide them," Borowski stated. "That starts with making sure we're supporting the people who choose these careers and giving them opportunities to grow." Borowski described investment in the existing workforce as central to expanding access to behavioral health care, pointing to ASCEND as a model for supporting workers while addressing staffing needs. Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources - free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today. Discover more Crime & Justice Travel Guides & Travelogues

Kyle Gravel named Vice President of autism services at RCPA member Devereux. Apr 8, 2026 Villanova, PA - April 8, 2026 - Devereux, one of the nation's largest nonprofit providers of behavioral healthcare, today announced that Kyle Gravel, M.S., LMFT, BCBA, CCATP-CA, ASDCS, has been selected for the newly created position of vice president of autism services, effective immediately. As a member of Devereux's executive leadership team, Gravel will oversee strategies, innovations and expansion efforts of the organization's new national autism services division. Specifically, he will lead the development and execution of a national autism expansion strategy, assess existing service offerings, identify areas for strategic growth, and drive a growth-based business plan focused on service innovation. Gravel also will ensure alignment and consistency across all Devereux autism programs, while promoting evidence-based practices and high standards of compassionate care. "Kyle is a strategic and visionary leader, and we are thrilled to welcome him to our team," said Devereux Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rhea Fernandes, Psy.D. "His expertise will be instrumental as we grow our national autism services division, expanding our reach and deepening our impact across the country. Kyle will be responsible for strengthening and elevating our services so we can continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the individuals and families we are privileged to serve." About Kyle Gravel, M.S., LMFT, BCBA, CCATP-CA, ASDCS Kyle Gravel, M.S., LMFT, BCBA, CCATP-CA, ASDCS, holds more than 20 years of experience driving scalable performance, data integration and multidisciplinary collaboration across national healthcare and behavioral health organizations. Prior to joining Devereux, Gravel spent eight years at Cortica in San Diego, most recently serving as vice president/head of regional operations. His previous roles at Cortica included area director of operations; regional director of cognitive and behavior therapies; director of cognitive and behavior therapies; and associate director of cognitive and behavior therapies. Before this, Gravel spent 10 years at Behavioral Support Partnership in Garden Grove, California, most recently in the role of director of parent training services. Gravel earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Science in clinical psychology from California State University, Fullerton. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist; Board Certified Behavior Analyst; certified child and adolescent anxiety treatment professional; certified autism spectrum disorder clinical specialist; and is pivotal response treatment certified, level 2. About Devereux Devereux is one of the nation's largest nonprofit organizations, providing services, insight and leadership in the evolving field of behavioral healthcare. Founded in 1912, Devereux operates a comprehensive national network of clinical, therapeutic, educational and employment programs that positively impact the lives of more than 10,000 children, adults - and their families - every year. The organization's unique approach combines evidence-based interventions with compassionate family engagement. With nearly 6,500 employees working in programs across the country, Devereux is a trusted partner for families, schools and communities, serving many of its country's populations in the areas of autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, specialty mental health, education and foster care. For more than a century, Devereux has been guided by a simple and enduring mission: To change lives by unlocking and nurturing human potential for people living with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences. Learn more: www.devereux.org.