AHAVA is a digital platform that grants access to the science behind our groundbreaking methodology, The Interpersonal Whole-Brain Model of Care® (IWBMC™). Over the past three years, a dedicated group of champions, donors, and foundations committed $2.245 million to help realize the dream of making the IWBMC™ accessible globally. Entirely funded through philanthropy, AHAVA officially launched in June 2024 and is poised to profoundly impact millions of lives needing therapeutic care.
The future of therapeutic support for brain-based challenges is AHAVA
After nearly three decades of proven success, Jacob’s Ladder and the IWBMC™ are well-positioned to become a leader in the global conversation about changing the approach to support and care for individuals with neurobiological challenges.
Through the launch of AHAVA, Jacob’s Ladder has realized the ultimate goal of extending the IWBMC™ methodology to give families, providers, evaluators, and clinicians a comprehensive solution to evaluate clients, design individualized programs, and implement therapeutic interventions to serve individuals navigating life with brain-based challenges anywhere in the world.
How philanthropy is helping to build the future impacts of AHAVA
To address the dramatic rise of autism and other neurobiological disorders, digitization of the IWBMC™ through AHAVA became an essential goal of Jacob’s Ladder. In 2020, through the transformative power of giving, a core group of Champions provided over $2.245 million in initial funding and IT expertise to develop the software infrastructure needed to create AHAVA, the Hebrew word for “love,” which is at the heart of our mission.
Over the last three years, continued support from additional donors, foundations, and corporate partners has allowed us to:
- Develop, test, and implement AHAVA’s key components and modules that deliver the IWBMC™.
- Digitize over 1,300 assessment metrics, film 1,000 therapeutic interventions, and incorporate 4,000+ therapeutic interventions to create a therapeutic plan through the platform.
- Utilize AHAVA daily at our flagship campuses to create weekly reports and track, review, and report each client’s data and progress securely and efficiently with each client’s care team member in real-time.
- Transition to a fully automated client intake and evaluation process, reducing the time needed to conduct and produce a final report by 41 percent. This improvement enables families to gain faster access to developing and implementing personalized therapeutic plans.
- Build our comprehensive course content and instructional videos for all four educational and training tiers – IWBMC™ Foundations, Educator, Provider, and Evaluator.
A Look Ahead: What’s Next
Over the last 30 years, Jacob’s Ladder has changed the conversation from impossible to possible for more than 4,000 people navigating life with brain-based challenges. Through AHAVA, we have the chance to serve millions more in need globally.
Since the recent launch, we have worked with prospective users and early adopters at the state and local levels. In addition, we are working to design and implement platform enhancements including:
- Incorporating language translation: Using the platform to translate content into multiple languages to support clients and families inside and outside the United States.
- Enhancing data tracking: Developing and incorporating additional data collection capabilities to increase the user experience and support Pillar Research initiatives.
- Developing additional reporting features: Designing tools to help families and professionals generate reports, access strategies, and build case studies to serve their family members and clients.
- Filming Video Content: Recording and uploading additional therapeutic and instructional videos to the platform for all users.
These milestones or future endeavors would not have been possible without our donor’s continued belief in our mission and their generous support. Together, we are transforming care systems, empowering families, and advancing industry standards. Your partnership propels us forward as we strive for excellence in every aspect of our work to reach this point and secure AHAVA’s future. If you would like more information on supporting AHAVA, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Cathy LaClaire, Chief Advancement Officer, at 770-998-1017 or CathyL@TheJacobsLadderGroup.org.
