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Combating Autism: Grant Programs
 

Training Programs for Professionals: Children's Research Institute, Washington, DC: Project Abstract

Problem: Children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and related special healthcare needs are entitled to rehabilitative care that meets the highest standards of quality. In 2008 it was reported that 67 per 10,000 (1 in 150) children were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). This finding shows a tenfold increase in the United States over 30 year. Within these 3 decades the number of professionals trained and inserted into the field has in no way reflected a response to this growing need of children with these disorders.   The response required to address this national problem requires systematized and concerted training in the training of professionals equipped to identify, diagnose, screen and treat ASD. 

Goals and Objectives: The expansion of the DC LEND program to emphasize autism and related disabilities represents a critical opportunity to generate an impact which addresses the increased needs in the field of autism spectrum disorders and related developmental disabilities by training practitioners in the community so that they can provide the best possible care for children with ASD, and by disseminating accurate information to the public and care agencies. The program strives to trainee indivudlas to evaluate, diagnose or rule out, develop, and provide evidence-based interventions to individuals with autism.

Activities Undertaken to Meet Project Goals:  The professionals trained in the LEND programs will exceed their usual disciplinary requirements for licensure or certification in order to acquire broadly based skills, knowledge, and attitudes in the application in interdisciplinary concepts and practices.  Through extensive pre-service training and a service intensive environment trainees will consult with colleagues from other disciplines, and prepared with specialists in the field to address regional concerns, in an interdisciplinary milieu of learning to work as team members with similar interests, yet complementary skills.

HP 2010 Objectives: In response to the HP 2010 objectives, we will:

  • Enable leadership trainees to educate and support our children/families with ASDs, while providing services designed to reduce care burdens. We will provide technical assistance use health research findings to prevent, diagnose and manage disabilities. 
  • Define, adapt and develop enhanced standards of health quality improvement for families with children with ASDs. Contribute substantially to professional education focused on the integration of didactic training, supervised clinical practice, and engagement in special projects pertaining to advocacy and public policy. 
  • We will support the development and dissemination of leadership education modules in interdisciplinary practice. Increase both the number and the diversity of health care professionals who have appropriate training and experience to serve CND, CSHCN and their families, and to integrate health services for them into diverse community settings via community-referenced programs.

Coordination:  The DC LEND program which presently comprises of a network of 11 institutions of higher learning and multiple clinical sites and schools specializing in the treatment and care of children with ASDs expects to grain greater momentum and impact in the community by this expansion. In addition to these collaborations, our plan is to work closely with the Department of Health who is working with government agencies and community partners to improve the data collection around the prevalence of autism in DC.  In addition, DOH will be working to assure that children with autism are maximizing the billing of health insurance, including Medicaid, as a means to encourage appropriate developmental progress.

Evaluation:  The evaluation of our autism expansion program will have four parts: A) The formal evaluation of our program includes the yearly measurement of the programmatic performance goals that have been established in collaboration with MCHB and HRSA’s Office of Performance Review. B) We will assess what percentage of trainees achieve all of the specific curricular goals based on MCHB leadership skills measurements. C) Trainees fill out a comprehensive questionnaire about the quality of their experience as a LEND trainee, and this includes suggestion for modifications in the curriculum. These results are presented to the faculty and alterations in the program are developed within small workgroups. D) As part of our yearly mini-survey, we will follow up all our trainees to determine what careers they choose and will specifically focus on the number of trainees who chose a position that principally deals with individuals with ASD.

Annotation: Our LEND aims to design, implement, evaluate, refine and disseminate screening, diagnostic and treatment service, teaching and research activities for the care of children with autism and related disabilities, especially those of underrepresented, and underserved populations.   In order to achieve this purpose we plan for our LEND initiative to become the “hub” of interdisciplinary activity on behalf of these children and their families within a consortium of institutions.