Exemplar – June, 2026

Welcome to Exemplar, the Benchmark Human Services (Benchmark) company newsletter. Enjoy, and please contact our Development team with any questions: [email protected].

We Stand Ready

By David Ross, Chief Operating Officer

As a service providing company, we most often ask “how” not “if” we can do something. It is part of our DNA, and it is a mindset that has helped propel our growth.

In the early 90s, we stood at the precipice of great opportunities to expand our mission. We were on a collision course, of sorts, for rapid growth. The following things collided: We got serious about tracking data that demonstrated performance and guided improvement; we had always interpreted our mission broadly (both in terms of who we would serve and also where); we had visionary leadership that set an entrepreneurial culture. Those values/realities, along with others, set a course for us to grow from a one county organization to, today, a service provider in 20 states.

An example from our early mission expansion comes from 1995 when state leadership in Indiana took note of receiving “good bang for their buck” through our Community Employment Services in Allen County, Indiana. This state-funded service helped people with disabilities find and keep meaningful work. The State’s data had concluded that their average cost per successful closure and the volume of those outcomes at Benchmark were comparatively good. This program’s success led to invitations to expand geographically to meet unmet needs like individuals on waiting lists to receive services, limited choice of quality providers for individuals with disabilities, and certain populations who lacked willing providers.

One such invitation was to set up shop in rural Winchester, IN with a population of under 5,000 but an unmet need; they had a number of individuals with serious mental illness who wanted employment. The traditional IDD provider, 15 miles down the road, did not have the expertise to serve this population and the local mental health provider lacked the credentials or interest in providing employment services. This was a tremendous missional opportunity, though it was a fairly small business opportunity in and of itself.  We knew that if we stewarded the opportunity well, more invitations to expand would come. Within 18 months, 20 or so individuals were working and more invitations did come.

Most of our growth has common threads to the story above. We have committed ourselves to meeting unmet needs and partnering with funders and referral sources to find a way.  We have a corporate principle that describes that we will, “wrap services around individual needs rather than trying to fit them into fixed programs.” This is the same way we aspire to partner with states and managed care organizations in bringing solutions.

The rollout of Rural Health Transformation Funds brings with it tremendous opportunities to partner with state and local entities to continue to meet unmet needs. That’s what we do, and we stand ready.

Avery’s Story

Avery was 14 years old when she was placed in Dept. of Child and Family Services custody.

“Avery felt so defective. She never wanted to take a shower or brush her hair or do things, you know, because she never had anyone stand by her and believe in her.

“I didn’t birth Avery, but I have had the joy of watching this transformation and seeing her turn into a beautiful young lady because of the investment that Benchmark made.”

– Michelle, Avery’s Adoptive Mother

Benchmark provided wrap-around services to support Avery as she transitioned out of foster care, including family therapy, individual therapy, caregiver coaching, QBHP interventions, and real-time crisis support. View Avery’s Story.

Where Potential Leads 

Benchmark Human Services operates in 20 states and serves more than 23,000 people annually. Our leadership staff come from all walks of life and support people through a variety of programs and services.

In this series, we get to know Benchmark leaders from across the country. Today, we hear from Nikhol B. Jackson, LPC, MFT, CPCS, RYT, our Community Action Treatment (CAT) Program Director in Georgia.

Tell us about your path to Community Action Treatment (CAT). What drew you to working with children and families in this capacity?

Community Action Treatment (CAT) aligns with my passion for meeting families where they are—both literally and emotionally. It offers an opportunity to provide intensive, community-based support that not only addresses immediate needs but also strengthens long-term family stability.

My path to CAT is rooted in over two decades of working across the behavioral health continuum—with children, families, and communities navigating complex challenges. Throughout my career, I’ve been drawn to roles that allow me to intervene early, support families in crisis, and help create sustainable change within the home environment.

I’ve always believed that when we invest in families, we impact generations, and CAT allows us to do that work in a meaningful and transformative way.

Helping to keep at-risk families together is hard and important work. What are some ways you keep your team focused on the end goal during difficult cases?

I remind my team that progress doesn’t always look like big breakthroughs. It often shows up in small, consistent shifts that build over time. I am also very intentional about how we show up to the work. I emphasize that in order for us to effectively support families, we have to first take care of ourselves.

That means encouraging healthy boundaries, promoting work-life balance, and creating space for my team to be well—mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. Through supervision, team meetings, and check-ins, we normalize processing the work, stepping back when needed, and celebrating small wins.

When the team feels supported and grounded, they’re able to show up more fully for the families we serve. I also remind them that we are not just managing cases—we are impacting lives. Reconnecting to that purpose helps restore motivation, resilience, and a sense of shared commitment.

What principle(s) guide your work?

Compassion, accountability, and intentionality guide my work.

I lead with compassion by recognizing the humanity in every client, family, and team member I serve. At the same time, I hold a strong sense of accountability—ensuring that as a team we show up consistently, ethically, and with a commitment to excellence.

Intentionality is also central to my approach. Every interaction, intervention, and decision is an opportunity to create meaningful impact. I also believe that how we care for ourselves directly impacts how we care for others, so I prioritize balance and well-being as part of sustainable, effective leadership.

Ultimately, my work is grounded in the belief that people can grow, families can heal, and with the right support, lasting change is always possible.

Child and Family Well-Being Services

Community Action Treatment

Under Nikhol Jackson’s leadership, Benchmark began providing Community Action Treatment (CAT) services in Georgia in 2023.

In partnership with the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Family and Children Services (DHS-DFCS), the CAT program supports youth up to the age of 21 who are at risk of out-of-home placement. Our team provides community-based therapy to young people and their families to explore the risks for out-of-home placement, seek to repair the parent-child connection where necessary, address behaviors, and more. Throughout the process, CAT team members work closely with the youth and family to provide comprehensive support and resources to build long-term stability and resilience, promote family unity, and achieve overall wellness.

Community-Based Services

Through a contract with the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) and in partnership with the Juvenile Justice System, Benchmark offers a range of Home and Community-Based Services designed to strengthen families, build skills, and keep children safely at home and in the community.

Services include home-based therapy and case management, parenting assessments, and family preservation. These child and family well-being programs are carried out by a team of clinicians serving 41 counties across northern Indiana. All services are grounded in evidence-based practices, including trauma-informed care, positive discipline, Seeking Safety, and Motivational Interviewing.

Contact our Development team to learn more about our Child and Family Well-Being programs.