Combating Autism Act Initiative (CAAI) Overview Act Early Summit: - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Combating Autism Act Initiative (CAAI) Overview Act Early Summit: Sacramento, CA. June 8-9, 2009 Cassie Lauver, ACSW Bonnie Strickland, PhD Denise Sofka, MPH, RD Maternal and Child Health Bureau, HRSA

Combating Autism Act- Enacted December 19, 2006 • NIH research: causes of ASD, diagnosis, early detection, intervention and treatment • CDC’s Disabilities Surveillance and Research Program • HRSA, Maternal and Child Health Bureau – increase awareness – promote evidence based interventions – reduce barriers to screening & diagnosis – and train professionals to diagnose and provide evidence based interventions

Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) • Coordinates all ASD efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) – Provides a public forum for discussion around ASD – Includes a Services Subcommittee to improve and build services capacity for appropriate, inclusive services • Develops a strategic plan for the conduct of ASD research: http://www.iacc.hhs.gov/strategic-plan/

CAAI Programs in HRSA/MCHB 1. Training Programs – 34 Expansions and 5 new LEND programs – Expansions to Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) training programs – A National Interdisciplinary Training Resource Center (AUCD)

Purpose of Training Programs • Educate interdisciplinary health professionals to better serve those with ASD and DD • Provide continuing education and technical assistance to other providers – Increase awareness, evidence based tools • Contribute to building systems of care

CAAI Programs in HRSA/MCHB 2. Autism Intervention Research (AIR) Networks – Physical Health Network (AIR-P): The General Hospital Corporation of Boston in conjunction with Autism Treatment Network (ATN) sites (Project Officer: Hae Young Park, hpark@hrsa.gov) – Behavioral Health Network (AIR-B): University of California at Los Angeles in conjunction with 4 other performance sites (Project Officer: Robyn Schulhof, rschulhof@hrsa.gov)

AIR Networks • Conduct research on evidence based practices; • Develop evidenced based guidelines and validate tools for interventions to improve health; and • Disseminate information on research, guidelines, and tools to health professionals and the public, especially families impacted by ASD and other DD.

CAAI Programs in HRSA/MCHB 3 . State Demonstration and Policy Programs – Nine state grants to: • implement state autism plans, and • to improve systems of services for children with ASD and other DD – State Public Health Coordinating Center (AMCHP)

CAAI Programs in HRSA/MCHB 4. National Evaluation • Logic model and research questions for the entire Initiative • Will be reported in HHS Secretary’s Report to Congress on progress related to ASD and other developmental disabilities • Required by the “Combating Autism Act of 2006.”

MCHB Autism Team • Associate Administrator’s • Research and Training Office – Jon Nelson – Peter van Dyck – Chris DeGraw – Anne Leitch – Stella Yu – Hae Young Park • Children with Special Health – Laura Kavanagh Needs – Denise Sofka – Bonnie Strickland – Nanette Pepper Callahan – Deidre Washington – Madhavi Reddy – Lynda Honberg – Robyn Schulhof • State and Community Health • Evaluation • Cassie Lauver – Lisa Wright Solomon • Michele Lawler • Ellen Volpe

www.mchb.hrsa.gov/autism

For Additional Information Denise Sofka, MPH, RD Senior Public Health Analyst/Project Officer HRSA, Maternal and Child Health Bureau (301) 443-0344 dsofka@hrsa.gov Cassie Lauver, ACSW, Director Division of State and Community Health HRSA, Maternal and Child Health Bureau (301) 443-2204 clauver@hrsa.gov Bonnie Strickland, PhD, Director Division of Services with Special Health Care Needs HRSA, Maternal and Child Health Bureau (301) 443-2350 bstrickland@hrsa.gov