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Balance Autism - Metro West
Celebrates One Year!
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We were excited to celebrate the special milestone on February 17—one year since Metro West became part of the Balance Autism family.
Today we wanted to take a moment to truly celebrate. This past year has been a journey of growth, learning, and collaboration. While the transition has not been without its trials and tribulations, we are incredibly grateful for the dedication of our teams, the trust of the families we serve, and the community that continues to grow around us.
To mark this milestone, we’re dedicating this entire issue to celebration—highlighting the amazing staff, sharing moments from the past year, and recognizing the people who make the Metro West community such an important part of Balance Autism.
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With this year marking the one-year anniversary, we also remember the remarkable founder, Toni Merfeld, who created Metro West and whose passion for serving individuals and families shaped its mission. Her dedication and heart remain woven into the program today. She is remembered with deep appreciation, and her legacy continues through the care, support, and community that Metro West provides every day.
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After the acquisition of the Metro West clinic and completion of the initial transition period, the location has now been fully integrated into the broader Central Iowa leadership structure. The territory now includes the Metro West, Clive, and Altoona clinics and operates under the leadership of the Central Iowa Children’s team. This crew is led by Lindsay Ward, Regional Clinic Director, with support from Steph Murphy, Assistant Regional Director; Josie Hupp, Regional Assistant Director of Programming; and Molly Warner, Director of Therapy Services. Together, this leadership team provides clinical, operational, and program oversight to support collaboration, consistency, and continued growth across the Central Iowa clinics.
Pictured above from left to right: Steph Murphy, Josie Hupp, Molly Warner, Lindsay Ward.
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New OT/SLP Outreach Assistant
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Yvette Keltner has served as the Administrative Assistant at the Altoona Clinic for the past year, where she plays an important role in supporting clinic operations and the teams that serve children and families. In the last month, she has recently started learning the ins and outs of speech and occupational therapy enrollment. She will be allocated a few hours a week to SLP/OT, while also maintaining her responsibilities at the front desk in Altoona.
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Yvette earned her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Human Services from the University of Iowa (Go Hawks!) and brings valuable experience working with children and in special education settings prior to joining Balance Autism.
Outside of work, Yvette enjoys adventuring with her husband and their two energetic pups, as well as spending time crafting and gaming. She is excited to expand her role to support Speech and Occupational Therapy outreach and looks forward to connecting with families to help their loved ones access the services they need to grow and thrive. Yvette is also enthusiastic about being part of the continued growth and impact of Balance Autism’s services.
We are so grateful to the role Megan Christensen has played previously in SLP and OT enrollment since the inception of Metro West - Balance Autism. Megan has transitioned to new responsibilities, including payroll, human resources, and operations.
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A special part of the Metro West community is Oakley, our therapy dog, whose warm and calming presence adds something truly unique to the program. Whether offering quiet comfort or sparking a smile, Oakley brings a special kind of support that is felt by everyone she meets.
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