Just a year into her job in California, Leah Jones learned her husband, a Marine, had been ordered to relocate to Maryland. 

Leah was a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) at LEARN Behavioral’s Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST) San Marcos Learning Center. She expected she’d have to apply for new jobs and face a delay between roles. But thanks to LEARN’s national network, she was able to continue working without interruption. 

When she found out her husband had new orders for Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Leah contacted her clinical director. She figured she’d have to resign and hope for the best on the East Coast. Instead, she found support, open communication, and a seamless transfer. 

Both AST and SPARKS are part of LEARN Behavioral’s nationwide group of providers. Because of this, Leah was able to move directly into a new BCBA role at SPARKS’ Springfield, Virginia office. Her story reflects how LEARN helps clinicians continue their careers across state lines, reducing stress and avoiding gaps in employment. 

“I fully anticipated I’d have to do the norm: apply for jobs, go through the whole thing,” Leah says. “There’s usually a delay, a month or two between jobs. But it was really seamless.” 

Unexpected Orders, Smooth Transition 

Leah had been with AST for a year when the move came. Though she and her husband had planned to stay in California longer, they got orders earlier than expected. Leah reached out to her regional clinical director, Michelle Stone, to give several months’ notice and ask about next steps. Michelle connected her with Kayla Bagnato, a regional director for SPARKS, who let her know there were open positions in the area. 

Within weeks, they worked out a transition.  

“I worked up until we moved,” Leah says. “We took two weeks off to actually do the full, complete move, to drive and get unpacked. Then I started here at the end of the two weeks. It was really nice. It definitely reduced a lot of the stress to do with a move.” 

Adjusting to a New Environment 

Leah now lives at Joint Base Andrews and commutes about 23 miles to the Springfield Learning Center. A few months in, she’s adjusting to a new commute and environment. 

At AST, she mostly worked in homes. Now, she primarily works in a center with some community-based clients. Still, she says the transition has been relatively smooth. 

“The structure as a whole was pretty cohesive,” Leah says. “There are definitely some differences, mainly because of funding sources on the East Coast versus West Coast. But as a whole, it’s pretty similar.” 

Advice for Others 

Leah encourages others who may need to relocate to reach out early and communicate openly. 

“It was honestly pretty easy,” she says. “Michelle helped me on the front end, and Kayla handled a lot on the back end.” 

She recommends asking about caseloads, billable hours, and the nature of the new work setting to avoid surprises. 

LEARN Behavioral’s coast-to-coast network allows clinicians like Leah to stay with the company, no matter where life leads. With planning and support, transferring within the organization is not only possible, but also practical. 

Want to learn more about internal transfers and job opportunities within LEARN Behavioral? Visit LEARN’s careers page to explore current openings across the country.