K-CART Kansas Early Intervention Autism Waiver Training
Project Description:
Our primary goal at the Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART) Autism Training Program is to serve as a training and resource center to support families whom have a member with an Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), and service providers delivering interventions to persons with ASD. The training mission is to increase the number of qualified service providers who can then facilitate program development, implementation, and coordination of interventions across multiple environments including home, community, and school settings.
The K-CART Autism Training Program has a short-term goal of providing training for the families participating in the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Autism Waiver program. Training focuses on persons providing intensive individual early intervention and occurs over four weeks. Training is designed to increase intervention with a focus on outcomes (i.e., improved functional skills and social-communicative ability) for children, youth, and families. The training structure consists of the following activities: web-based instructional modules, homework assignments, and direct contact (hands on experience) with children with ASD in clinic and community settings. Evaluation of the K-CART Autism Training Program measures increases in knowledge and skill development of participants. Evaluation for all persons includes pre and post assessments for each of the modules. Additional evaluation for IIS persons and Autism Specialists includes observations of participants and children with autism using a fidelity checklist to measure use of the specific skills.
In our first year of service we have had the opportunity to add 98 new providers to the ranks of Kansas State Waiver providers. Through trainings at the University of Kansas Medical Center, the University of Kansas-Edwards Campus and trainings in Wichita, we?ve trained 21 Autism Specialists, 36 Intensive Individual Supports Providers, 27 Respite Providers, and 14 Parent Support Providers. In addition we have trained 37 professionals who do not provide services under the waiver. Our trainees come from 16 communities located all over the state including Topeka, Wichita, Paola, Lawrence, Beloit, and Great Bend. Trainees? backgrounds range from high school education to Ph.D. level with professional backgrounds that are just as varied.
Keyword(s):
Autism, Early Invtervention, training
Core Function(s):
Training Trainees, Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information
Area of Emphasis
Quality Assurance, Education & Early Intervention, Child Care-Related Activities, Health-Related Activities, Employment-Related Activities, Quality of Life
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Urban, Specific Groups
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Single-County, Mulit-County, State
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
