2008 40 Under 40 Honoree: Allicia Baum

Allicia Baum always knew she wanted to be a therapist and work with children.

“With kids, you see change happening in front of you all the time,” says Baum, a licensed psychologist at Burrell Behavioral Health. “I just hope I’m planting a seed that will grow later.”

Baum has worked at Burrell for five years, building a strong referral base through schools, physicians, families and community agencies. She’s also a clinical supervisor to unlicensed therapists and works with them to prepare for licensure, and she recently started a new group therapy class for children with social-skill challenges.

Baum is especially thrilled about helping develop the autism spectrum disorders program at Burrell Autism Center. The goal is to work with existing programs and agencies in the Ozarks to better meet needs of those affected by autism, because early diagnosis and treatment is critical.

“It’s a really underserved population. … I like to find a need and fill it,” Baum says.

She’s been on the treatment side for autism and recently began evaluations.

“The evaluation piece is really what our area doesn’t have. … I’m really excited to be a part of that team, because that’s where it starts,” she adds.

Married 10 years, Baum learned early in her professional career to juggle work and family.

While still in graduate school and working full time, she gave birth to her first child. Three weeks later, she completed her comprehensive exams. Then an internship in Iowa took Baum and her daughter away from her husband for a year, because the family ultimately wanted to stay in the Ozarks.

Baum also has a son, and she is the director of Sunday school at her church.

“Aside from completing my degree, I find accomplishment every day in the things my own children accomplish (as well as) the children I work with at church and the children I work with in my job,” Baum says. “I often live vicariously through them.”

She believes she influences the success of others – and particularly children — on a regular basis.

“I think you can really make a difference when you start (working with) them young. … I learn so much from them. They are always teaching me things,” Baum says. “The most important thing is the kids and their families, and getting them what they need.”

Double Play

Birth date: March 11, 1976

Family: I have been married to my husband, Paul, for over 10 years. We met in college at what is now Central Methodist University in Fayette. Paul works in finance at Dennis Hanks Chevrolet in Ozark. We had our daughter, Madelyn, age 7, while I was in graduate school. I had complications with that pregnancy and we thought we were done having children at that point. But, two days before Christmas in 2005, we had our son, Matthew, 2. We also have many extended family members living in the surrounding area and I am glad that my kids will grow up knowing their family.

Philosopy to live/work by: My Christian faith is very important to me and much of what I do is driven by the principles of loving others, forgiving others, and encouraging others. I also strongly believe that the difficult times in life are the most important because it is from those experiences that we learn and grow as human beings.

Information accurate at the time of the honor.[[In-content Ad]]