Catherine A. Hughes, Director of Family Support Services
Catherine is the Director of Family Support Services for FBR. Though she graduated from Penn State University with an Associate's Degree in the liberal arts, it was her experiences as mother to Christian (her beloved son previously diagnosed on the autism spectrum) that inspired her to enter the behavioral health field in 2003.
She is involved with FBR as a member of the Corporate Team and is assists in day to day program development and decision making, allowing the company to stay true to our mission of providing Family Focused Therapy. Catherine provides caring support to families, and is a valuable resource to staff, families and the community. She also performs a number of other tasks at FBR, including training and program development, editing for the company website and maintenance of all social media, creating the quarterly community newsletter, Moving Forward, offering presentations and trainings, coordination of community workshops, and much more. She has co-facilitated trainings and presentations with members of the Autism Team at school districts, universities, and community organizations. She has advocated with FBR as a professional and as a parent at local and state levels. Catherine promotes early intervention for children with autism and related disorders, and for parents to research every avenue, leaving no stone unturned. She encourages families to provide a voice for their loved ones by becoming their strongest advocates.
In addition to her employment with FBR, she volunteers for ABOARD co-facilitating and presenting at support groups across FBR, and the Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism Speaks Planning Committee. Catherine served for six years as the chairperson of the Entertainment subcommittee for the walk. She is also a past volunteer columnist for the Autism Globe, a free publication provided by the Autism Help Network. She has served the Autism Help Network as a member of the Autism Think Tank.
In 2009, Catherine was elected to serve as President and Chairman of the Board for The FBR Foundation. She was also appointed as the National Director of Family Support Services for the Autism Education and Research Institute (AERI), an organization that serves the community by offering training and professional development opportunities, school-based programming, adult services in collaboration with FBR, and other clinical support to persons with an ASD. AERI is proud to partner with Achieving in Higher Education with Autism and Developmental Disabilities (AHEADD) and Specializing in the Treatment and Education of Persons on the Spectrum (STEPS) Behavioral Consulting to further support families across the United States.
Catherine resides in southern Allegheny County with her mother, son, and cats, Tigerlily and Callie.
WHY FBR?
“I have a venue to share my passion for assisting families, giving back what has so graciously been given to me since my son’s diagnosis. FBR, who provides nothing short of clinical care of the highest caliber across all programs, including services for my own child, has proven to me that recovery is possible. All teams at FBR – at management and field staff levels – never cease to amaze me with their expertise and their tireless drive. It brings tears to my eyes when I reflect on how each and every day that at FBR, we prove that here… caring is everything. My role could never be referred to as a “job.” Here, I feel at home, and embrace my colleagues as if they were family. FBR has given me a once in a lifetime opportunity with endless blessings. I could never thank them enough for what they have done for me, and my family."
