2017 Autism CARES Meeting: Pathways to Progress

Monday, July 10, 2017- Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Location: Bethesda, MD

This bi-annual meeting was an opportunity for MCHB-funded Autism CARES legislation grant recipients representing research, training, and state systems change efforts, to share information about activities within their respective networks, discuss emerging trends, and facilitate meaningful collaboration. This meeting was hosted by ITAC, in collaboration with SPHARC and HRSA-MCHB.

Theme

Pathways to Progress: Overcoming Barriers to Access, Translating Research to Practice, and Reducing Health Disparities

Agenda

A final version (click here to download) of the 2017 CARES Meeting agenda 

Plenary Speakers

Click here to view a list of plenary speakers, including biographical information and photographs.  See the presentation titles below to download presentation content.  

• CARES Evaluation: A Summary of Network Progress by Rachel Holzwart
• Research Grantee Mini-Keynote by Connie Kasari, PhD
• State Systems Grantee Mini-Keynote by Arzu Forough
• Training Grantee Mini-Keynote by David Helm, PhD
• Policy Update by Denise Rozell, JD
• Closing Keynote by Peter Gerhardt, EdD

Concurrent Sessions

A complete list of accepted concurrent sessions is also included in the "Downloads" box at the top right of this page. Download concurrent session presentations below. 

Grantee Concurrent Presentations

• CHOP and Chinatown Medical Services: Collaborating to Reduce Disparities and Translate Research to Practice
• Expanding the Reach of the Learn the Signs. Act Early. Campaign: Training Regional Deputy Ambassadors Across California
• Serving Children at Risk for ASD: Presumptive Eligibility in South Carolina
• Using Community-Partnered Participatory Research Methods in AIR-B to Reduce Autism Service Disparities
• Improving Systems to Support Universal Development and Behavioral Health and Developmental Screening for Refugee and Immigrant Children Birth to 8

"Moving Forward Together" Concurrent Presentations

• Self-Advocacy Community: Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Autism Women's Network, Self Advocates Becoming Empowered
• Family and Grassroots Leaders: Family Voices, DC Autism Parents, Autism Society of Northern Virginia
• Federal Partners: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Research and Philanthropy Community: Autism Speaks
• Broader MCH Community: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP)

E-Posters

Select from the list of topical symposia below to view electronic (.pdf) copies of individual posters as they're submitted. A complete list of accepted posters (grouped by symposia) is included in the "Downloads" box at the top right of this page.

• Leveraging Data to Improve Outcomes
• Improving Service Delivery and Efficacy
• Innovations in ASD Screening and Diagnosis
• The Role and Experience of Family Members and Caregivers
• Building a Diverse and Culturally Competent Workforce

Small Group Discussions

A list of small group discussion topics and the discussion guide is included in the "Downloads" box at the top right of this page. Notes from the small group discussions will be available shortly.

Overcoming Barriers to Access for Underserved Communities

• Rural and Geographically Isolated Populations
• Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Minority Groups
• Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Populations
• Non-English Speaking Populations

Reducing Health Disparities Across the Lifespan

• Early Childhood / School-Age
• Transition
• Adulthood

Translating Research to Practice in Diverse Settings

• Primary Care
  Additional Resources: From Co-Located to Integrated Teams: How Utah's Neurobehavior HOME Program Changed Its Culture; Building a Person-Centered Medical Home: Lessons from a Program for People with Developmental Disabilities; Senate Bill 832
• Specialty Care
• Primary, Secondary, and Postsecondary Education
• Social and Community Life

Evaluation

We would like to hear feedback from any event attendees who were not able to submit a paper evaluation on-site.  To share thoughts about your experience, complete the 2017 CARES participant survey (click here) before July 31, 2017.  

Event Information

This meeting was open to individuals representing the network of current (and former) MCHB-funded Autism CARES training, research, and state systems change grant recipients, as well as representatives from relevant federal agencies and invited organizational partners.   If you have questions or concerns about the event contact Sarah DeMaio at [email protected].

Download Material(s):