Michael King, LCSW is the Program Manager for the GIANT Steps program. He has worked at WMH since 2003 in a variety of positions. He has been trained in the “Early Start Denver Model for Autism Treatment, EMDR, Motivational Interviewing, and Trauma-focused CBT. Michael has experience working with adults, families, and children who have struggled with a variety of mental health issues in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Michael enjoys facilitating group therapy and has experience running groups for autism support, social skills, anger management, DBT skills, and trauma-related issues. Michael has loved working at Wasatch Mental Health and loves helping families reach their goals. He sees challenges as opportunities for growth and uses a strengths-based approach in his practice. He listens empathetically and collaborates with the people he works with to develop recovery plans that are evidence based and that the families are comfortable trying to work on their goals.
Michael has been married for 16 years and has 3 children. In the summer, he loves fishing, rock climbing, and backpacking with his family. In the winter, Michael can be found snowboarding and sledding with his kids. He also enjoys cooking, painting, and playing the guitar and drums.
Janeen McFadden, BCBA is the GIANT Steps Supervisor. She has worked in the GIANT Steps program since it started in 1997 in a variety of positions. Janeen assisted in the development of the current curriculum and treatment techniques used at GIANT Steps and is now the GIANT Steps Supervisor. Janeen received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and her Special Education endorsement from BYU. She received her Master’s in Education Degree from Utah Valley University with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis.
Janeen has always had an interest in helping students learn. She started tutoring in elementary school and her first experience helping children with autism was at the age of 14 at the Utah State Developmental Center. She loves helping others make progress. She says “In college, I thought elementary education was right for me but after working at GIANT Steps, I discovered that I wouldn’t want to work with anyone more than the children and families at GIANT Steps. They feel like part of my family and sometimes they teach me more than I teach them.”
Chase Stuart, SSW started with Giant Steps in June of 2018. Prior to joining GIANT Steps; Chase worked at Vantage Point for over ten years as a Human Service Worker and a Case Manager. Chase graduated from Utah Valley University in 2012 with his Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science with an emphasis in Social Work. After graduating, he completed the requirements and obtained his Social Service Worker license.
Chase has been married for 7 years and has two children. He is an avid sports fan of Real Salt Lake, BYU, and the Utah Jazz. He enjoys spending time with his family and looks forward to every new adventure.
“As a parent of two kids that have autism and have been in the program, I’ve seen first hand the incredible work the staff here at Giant Steps has done. I felt that when an opportunity arose to join Giant Steps, I couldn’t pass up that chance. I am hopeful I can be a support for the parents that have children in the program”.
Heidi Young, ACMHC worked as an autism aide at Giant Steps for 4 years, then started a masters program to become a mental health counselor. Previous to Giant Steps, she worked as a human service worker and case manager in various programs at Wasatch Behavioral Health. She is happy to be able to provide counseling to children and families, and feels honored to work in such a fantastic program. She believes each individual is the expert of their own life, and has the capacity to facilitate change.
Heidi has been married for 25 years, and has three children, one of which is on the spectrum. She enjoys rock climbing and traveling with her family. She has been involved in her daughter’s ballroom dancing and tours, and found that she enjoys large-scale decorating with her husband for the competitions. She loves to constantly be learning and improving.
Kaitlin Nichols, BS is the secretary in the GIANT Steps program and previously served as an Autism Specialist. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Family Life with a Human Development emphasis from Brigham Young University in 2014. She has been clogging for 15 years and competes and performs with a team called Rocky Mountain Premiere.
She enjoys working with children on the autism spectrum and seeing them progress.
Autism Specialists
Anne Hayes, BS is working as an Autism Specialist in the GIANT Steps program. She has been working at WMH since 2013 and became an Autism Specialist in 2015. Anne received her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Sociology from BYU-Idaho.
“I honestly did not think that I would become a teacher. After doing an internship with GIANT Steps, I fell in love with the program and the job. Watching the kids grow and progress is an amazing thing to experience and I can honestly say I love going to work.
Amber Hopkins, MS is an Autism Specialist at the GIANT Steps Preschool program where she has worked since the year 2000. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Brigham Young University in Marriage, Family, and Human Development and licensed in Special Education Severe/Profound. She got her SSW licensure for kicks and giggles and then graduated with her Master of Science Degree in Special Education in April 2012.
Amber loves being a mom, wife, daughter, sister, etc. to her wonderful family!
Amber Johnson, BS earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Social Work from Utah Valley University in 2007. She has been working with WMH in the GIANT Steps Autism Preschool program since 2006 and has been an Autism Specialist since 2010. Amber started working with special needs children as a teacher’s assistant in high school She helped the kids in the classroom and was able to take the kids on activities around town. It was during this time that she developed a love for these special kids and knew that she wanted a career working with them. Amber says “I have loved working with the GIANT Steps children and especially love seeing the progress they make.”
Amber loves working with these special children and values all that they teach her. She cannot imagine any other career.
Sarah Patterson, BS is an Autism Specialist in the GIANT Steps Autism Preschool program. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders from Brigham Young University. Sarah was first introduced to Wasatch as a volunteer, and has now been working at GIANT Steps since 2018. She loves working with these amazing kids and watching them grow!
Katie Beck, BS is an Autism Specialist in the GIANT Steps program and has worked with children with autism and their families for 12 years. She enjoys working with the parents to help their child succeed at school and at home. Katie earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Behavioral Science.
She enjoys spending time with her family and cheering her kids on in all their activities, from cheer to soccer to ballroom to football.
Tiffany Garner, BS has been working as an Autism Specialist in the GIANT Steps Autism Preschool program since 2012 and in other positions in the program for 2 years prior to that. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Science with an emphasis in Social Work from Utah Valley University and is currently working to earn her Social Work License. Tiffany loves working with children and feels privileged to work with the GIANT Step’s children every day.
She says “My love for people with disabilities began from a young age. My mom has worked in this field since before I was born. I remember going in to visit her and seeing the love these amazing people have towards everyone. I have loved working at Giant Steps and seeing the progress these children can make over a school year. I am thankful to be a part of their lives and I can truly say they make me a better person each day.”
Autism Aides
Ashley Bitner is a full-time Autism Aide in the GIANT Steps Program. Ashley has been working with preschool aged students since 2016, and began working at GIANT Steps in 2018.
“I love working at GIANT Steps! Every day I learn something new, and I myself am growing from working in this program. I believe that there is no better place for the children to learn and grow, than in the GIANT Steps program. Its such a unique and individualized program for each child which makes for a better foundation for success in the future”
Ashley Austin is a full-time Autism Aide in the Giant Steps program. She volunteered in Wasatch Behavioral Health’s XCEL program before accepting a position in Giant Steps in 2018.
“I’ve always loved working with kids, but Giant Steps is something truly special! Being a part of this program has helped me discover a passion for working with children with autism. I love watching the kids grow in the program, and I’m always amazed by the progress they’ve made by the time they leave. I feel so lucky to be a part of this one-of-a-kind team!”
Michelle Baldarrago began working with children who have autism in 2006 and has worked at GIANT Steps since 2008. She is currently a Full Time Autism Aide. “I began to love children with autism in high school. My teacher suggested I start an internship at an autism preschool. I immediately loved it and the teacher offered me a job. I worked at the preschool for three years until I discovered GIANT Steps.
There is no better program for children with autism than GIANT Steps. I have seen more success and improvement than you could ever hope for. It is the most rewarding job! I am very lucky to be able to learn from these children every day.”
Jennifer Bunnell is a full-time Autism Aide in the GIANT Steps program. She started working at GIANT Steps in August of 2016. Jennifer has enjoyed working with children and adults with special needs since her senior year in high school.
“I feel so blessed to be a part of the GIANT Steps program and watch the children make such big improvements. It is a very rewarding job and I truly love it!”
Autumn Hard, AS is a full time aide at Giant Steps where she has worked since 2015. Before working at Giant Steps she lived in Georgia where she worked with children in different capacities for 8 years, the last 4 years of which she was a licensed paraprofessional at a therapeutic and behavioral school. She has an associate degree in early childhood care and education.
Autumn is the mother of five children and enjoys reading, playing games, and spending time with loved ones.
Brooke Hopoate is a full-time Autism Aide and has been working with preschool children in the GIANT steps program since 2012.
“While studying Human Development at BYU, I became interested in children with autism spectrum diagnoses. I have always enjoyed working with various populations, however since starting at GIANT Steps, these children have stolen my heart. In 2014, I became a full-time aide and I cannot imagine working anywhere else!”
Evan Jenny is an Autism Aide in the GIANT Steps program and has worked at Wasatch Behavioral Health for 4 years. He has worked with preschool/kindergarten-aged children and with teenagers. He began as a part-time aide for GIANT Steps at Vineyard Elementary School and then worked part-time in the XCEL program before returning to GIANT Steps.
Biography Coming Soon.
Biography Coming Soon.