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Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation Inc

EIN 72-0542134 · Baton Rouge, LA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE EMERGE CENTER EMPOWERS CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND INDIVIDUALS WITH COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES TO ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE THROUGH INNOVATIVE AND FAMILY-CENTERED THERAPIES.

Income
$7.6 million
Spending
$7.4 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 77%
Employees
295
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$187,364, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $5.7 million spent. BRSHFS CHILDRENS DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER ENCOMPASSES THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS THERAPEUTIC PRESCHOOL, SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SERVICES, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND BEHAVIORAL SERVICES. WE OFFER A NUMBER OF INTER-DISCIPLINARY SERVICES, WHILE THERAPISTS AND PROVIDERS COLLABORATE TO ACHIEVE THE BEST RESULTS FOR OUR CLIENTS AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR FAMILIES. OUR THERAPEUTIC PRESCHOOL PROVIDES MULTIPLE INTERVENTIONS, FROM A NUMBER OF DISCIPLINES, UNDER ONE ROOF. NURTURING PROFESSIONAL STAFF WORK TOGETHER AND ONE-ON-ONE WITH EACH CHILD AND FAMILY, TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC GOALS AND DEVELOP A CUSTOMIZED THERAPY PLAN FOR HIM OR HER, BASED ON DIAGNOSIS, AGE, AND SKILL LEVEL. THIS UNIQUE PRESCHOOL FORMAT IS AIMED AT HELPING EACH CHILD TO ATTEND KINDERGARTEN READY TO LEARN. OUR SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SERVICES HELP CHILDREN WITH SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DEFICITS BY BUILDING COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN A SAFE, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. OUR SUPPORTIVE NETWORK OF PROFESSIONAL, LICENSED SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS, ALONG WITH THEIR SUPPORT TEAM, ARE FULLY DEDICATED TO LISTENING TO AND LEARNING FROM OUR CHILDREN IN ORDER TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THEIR SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PROBLEMS. WE PROVIDE EVATION AND DIAGNOSIS, GROUP SPEECH-LANGUAGE CLASSES, AND INDIVIDUAL SPEECH THERAPY. OUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS WORK HAND-IN-HAND WITH EACH CHILD TO DEVELOP THEIR SENSORY-MOTOR SKILLD, THROUGH INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP THERAPY. OUT BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS, WHICH ENABLES US TO TREAT THE WHOLE CHILD. OUR TEAM CONSISTS OF LICENSED PSYCHOLOGISTS AND BOARD-CERTIFIED ANALYSTS WHO PROVIDE EVALUATINS AND DIAGNOSIS, BEHAVIOR THERAPY, AND PARENT AND EDUCATOR CONSULTATIONS.
  2. $403,579 spent. AUDIOLOGY SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS HELPING PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS LIVE AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE IS A CORE FOCUS OF OUR MISSION. WE OFFER COMPREHENSIVE HEARING PROGRAMS FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO HELP EACH PAITENT OVERCOME THE SPECIFIC CHALLENGES THAT HEARING LOSS PRESENTS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE LED BY LICENSED AUDIOLOGISTS WITH THE HIGHEST DEGREE CREDENTIALS. OUR AUDIOLOGISTS PROVIDE EVALUATIONS AND DIAGNOSIS, HEARING AID, PERSONAL FM SYSTEMS FOR SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, COCHLEAR IMPLANT TROUBLESHOOTING, ASSISTED LEARNING DEVICES, HEARING AID MAINTENANCE AND CONSULTATION AND AUDITORY PROCESS DISORDER TESTING.
  3. $344,057 spent. EMERGE'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT SPECIALIZES IN TREATING BEHAVIORAL DIFFICULTIES IN CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND PROVIDE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENTS. THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, TESTING FOR AUTISM, ADHD, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, AND LEARNING DISORDERS. EVALUATIONS MAY INCLUDE INTELLECTUAL, ACHIEVEMENT, AND ADAPTIVE FUNCTIONING ASSESSMENTS, SPECIFIC DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENTS, AND FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENTS. TREATMENTS INCLUDE BEHAVIOR THERAPY FOR PROBLEM BEHAVIORS, SELF-CARE DEFICITS, MOOD/ANXIETY DISORDERS, AND ANGER MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS SOCIAL SKILLS TRAINING AND FEEDING THERAPY. CONSULTATIVE SERVICES FOR PARENTS AND SCHOOLS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE. A PHYSICIAN'S REFERRAL IS REQUIRED TO BE TREATED BY EMERGE'S CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS. REFERRING PEDIATRICIANS RECEIVE ASSESSMENT RESULTS, AND CAN RECEIVE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION AS REQUESTED PERTAINING TO THERAPY. FAMILY AND TEACHER INPUT IS CRUCIAL TO DEVELOPING TREATMENT PLANS BASED UPON THE CHILD'S STRENGTHS AND NEEDS. OUR PSYCHOLOGISTS CAREFULLY DEVELOP TREATMENT PLANS THAT COINCIDE WITH BEHAVIORAL FUNCTIONS WHILE REMAINING PRACTICAL FOR CAREGIVERS TO IMPLEMENT. ONCE A TREATMENT PLAN IS FORMULATED, A FUNCTIONAL, ASSESSMENT-DRIVEN INTERVENTION MAY BE IMPLEMENTED WHILE CONTINUING TO COLLECT DATA AND MONITOR PROGRESS. TEACHERS, THERAPISTS, AND OTHER CAREGIVERS MAY BE ASKED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION DURING THE COURSE OF TREATMENT OR AT DISCHARGE. TREATMENT AIDS IN IMPROVING A CHILD'S SOCIAL, COMMUNICATIVE, BEHAVIORAL, EMOTIONAL, AND ACADEMIC FUNCTIONING, BY PROVIDING HIM WITH TOOLS TO OVERCOME LIFE'S DAILY CHALLENGES.THE EMERGE CENTER IS UNIQUE, AS WE EMPLOY A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH BY OFFERING A VARIETY OF SERVICES UNDER ONE ROOF (I.E., OUTPATIENT PSYCHOLOGY, APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS, SPEECH THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY). THUS, WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER MORE ROBUST TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES. OUR CENTER PROVIDES ADDITIONAL VALUE BECAUSE WE SPECIFICALLY TREAT CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO A CHILD THAT OTHER PROGRAMS GENERALLY CANNOT IS THE BLENDING OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY WITH OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES. IT IS OUR EXPERIENCE THAT CHILDREN WITH LANGUAGE AND DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS ALSO FREQUENTLY HAVE BEHAVIORAL DIFFICULTIES STEMMING FROM THEIR INABILITY TO COMMUNICATE. THIS IS WHY THE EMERGE CENTER OFFERS PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS, BEHAVIOR THERAPY, COUNSELING, AND CONSULTING SERVICES WHICH ALLOWS US TO "TREAT THE WHOLE CHILD" MORE COMPLETELY AND PROVIDE A TRUE CONTINUITY OF CARE HERE IN BATON ROUGE.
  4. $265,576 spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1966.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.