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Making
a Difference in the Lives of
Autistic
Children and
Their Families
When
Paul Owen was just fifteen years old and in high school, he
had the opportunity to work with children in an early intervention
program . As a young adult, he supervised a group home for
men, worked as an instructor and later supervised a group
home for six years, during which time, he developed a strong
relationship with three young boys and their families. A growing
concern surfaced within Paul about the quality care available
for young children through large providers. In response, he
decided to his own small business.
In
February 2003, a $10,000 Utah microenterprise loan enabled
them to open Esteem
Services, their
first group home for children with autism, located at 6330
South Dixie Drive, Suite 209 in West Jordan . The 10,000 loan
helped fund payroll, staff training, insurance, and furniture.
One year after the loan, a second group home was opened. Esteem
Services
now employs 41 staff members serving seven boys in
three homes. |
