In June 2024, the McColloughs moved their family of five from Texas to Roswell, GA, to enroll their son Cole at Jacob’s Ladder. Their journey began a year earlier when they enrolled in JL’s remote services program, Family Wraparound, to implement the Interpersonal Whole-Brain Model of Care® (IWBMC™) remotely from home, giving Cole a crucial head start. Despite being 1,000 miles away, they found unwavering support from the JL team, which led to a remarkable transformation in Cole’s progress before he even stepped foot on campus.
Family Wraparound is a remote services program that offers a personalized approach. It combines parent coaching, strategies, and therapeutic interventions for home use. The McColloughs chose this program a year before their move to prepare Cole for a smoother transition into the IWBMC™ methodology.
“When we traveled to Roswell for the evaluation, it was clear that everyone at Jacob’s Ladder truly cares and listens,” said Cole’s mom, Lauren. “When we started Family Wraparound, we found that the level of involvement and care extended from 1,000 miles away was much more than a remote program. It became an integral part of our daily life.”
The transformation Cole experienced through Family Wraparound was extraordinary. Almost immediately, Lauren said he began showing significant improvements—becoming more engaged, focused, and better connected with peers. Previously, managing around 20 hours of therapy each week could often lead to challenging behaviors. Still, Cole’s progress was evident within months. “We started the program at home in August 2023, and within four weeks, he was doing so well that we discontinued his ABA therapy,” Lauren shared.
The Jacob’s Ladder team worked closely with the McCoulloughs, guiding them in applying IWBMC™ methods at home. Cole practiced a four-block technique twice daily, addressing his sensory needs. “You could see all these things come together and create new pathways in his brain,” Lauren explained. “He used to cry and seek sensory input, getting dysregulated for extended periods. But his sensory responses and emotional regulation improved dramatically.”
The benefits extended beyond Cole’s growth, positively impacting the family as they incorporated IWBMC™ techniques into their daily routines. Regular check-ins from Jacob’s Ladder ensured that Cole’s program evolved with his needs. “Family Wraparound makes a huge difference when it becomes a natural part of your daily life,” Lauren noted. This progress allowed the family to enjoy a long-awaited trip to Mexico the summer before their move to Georgia—a milestone previously challenging.
Fast forward to August 2024 and Cole’s enrollment in the Hope School. Sam Reynolds, Program Director of the Hope School, praised Cole’s continued success. “Since starting here, Cole has been thriving. Hope School has been instrumental in helping him expand his social and communication skills, adapt to new challenges, and enhance his problem-solving abilities,” Reynolds said. The McCollough family’s journey highlights the power of dedicated support and the potential for extraordinary growth when families and programs work together with unwavering commitment.
Would you like more information on our Family Wraparound program? Click here. You can also contact Sarah Eades, admission coordinator, at SarahE@TheJacobsLadderGroup.org.
