Jessica Swanson knows that parents of children with autism and other special needs often face overwhelming challenges. She knows what it feels like to walk in their shoes – and she’s well-equipped to help. Swanson is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and founder of Summit Health Services, Inc. (SHS) in Huntsville.
Swanson is passionate about helping military families with special needs children who are often relocated and struggle to access consistent, high-quality ABA therapy. Her daughter, Isla, was diagnosed at age two with CDKL5, a rare genetic disorder that includes profound autism. Today, Isla is 13 and nonverbal. She receives Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy both at home and at SHS’s clinic.
“We have been an active-duty military family for over 20 years,” Swanson says. “We’ve lived in 11 different locations. Frequent relocations make it hard for families to maintain care for their children.”
Swanson’s deeply personal experiences led her to launch SHS in 2019 and fill a critical gap for military parents and their children.
About 85% of SHS clients are military affiliated. SHS offers sleep training, in-home and in-clinic ABA services, and support groups. Its 3,000-square-foot clinic has 12 treatment rooms, and the company employs 20 home-based staff serving families across several states.
“As Isla’s parent, I saw the gaps and frustrations in the system,” Swanson says. “As a clinician, I knew the importance of creating a safe place where skilled, compassionate people could make a real difference. I wanted the very best for Isla—and for other families. From that vision, Summit Health was born.”
But running a growing company while caring for her children wasn’t easy. After six years, Swanson decided to sell SHS and prepare for an executive role with the future buyer. To position the company for acquisition, she needed financial stability. In April 2025, she applied for funding through the NCI Loan Fund, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) subsidiary of nonprofit Neighborhood Concepts, Inc. She secured the loan in June.
“The entire Loan Fund team made the process simple—a welcome change from working with larger lenders,” Swanson says. The funding helped her make payroll and keep services going during insurance-related setbacks.
“Keeping the company afloat was instrumental in attracting the right buyer,” Swanson adds. “We’re now in negotiations to complete the sale.”
“Jessica’s story is exactly why we exist,” says Tasha Reed, loan coordinator for Neighborhood Concepts. “We want to help small businesses weather challenges and keep serving their communities. Her commitment to families and her vision for Summit Health made her an ideal candidate for our support.”
Swanson hopes SHS will grow beyond what she could achieve alone. “I’d love to see Summit Health serve as many kids as possible across the U.S.,” she says.
The company will keep its name, and Swanson will remain involved as a minority owner and employee.
For Swanson, the journey comes full circle: a mother’s struggle turned into a mission, a mission into a thriving company, and now a new chapter—still focused on helping families like hers.
The Regions Foundation recently announced a $150,000 grant to support the NCI Loan Fund, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) operated by Huntsville-based nonprofit Neighborhood Concepts, Inc. This latest investment from the Regions Foundation will expand access to capital for small businesses in Huntsville and surrounding communities.
The Regions Foundation is a nonprofit funded primarily by Regions Bank; through its grantmaking program, the Foundation supports economic and community development initiatives, along with education and workforce readiness programs and financial wellness opportunities.
The NCI Loan Fund is a natural community partner for the Regions Foundation. Since 2015, NCI has deployed nearly $17 million and supported more than 220 small businesses, including 25 this year alone.
To learn more about the Regions Foundation, please visit https://www.regions.com/foundation.