Arkansas Autism Parthership
Project Description:
Partners is the administrative entity for the State Developmental Disabilities Agency to administer the Arkansas Autism Partnership (AAP), which is the Medicaid Waiver program for young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The program is responding to the priority need identified in the State for intensive evidence-based intervention for young children with ASD. The goal of the program is to provide a home-based program through which 20-30 hours or individualized treatment, using evidence-based interventions, is provided to qualified children with ASD. Eligible children are those who meet Medicaid eligibility requirements and are between the ages of 18 months and 7 years. The program utilized a three-tiered approach, different from similar programs. The tiers include a Masters-level Consultant, Bachelors-level Lead Therapist and paraprofessional-level Line Therapist. Another unique feature is the requirement that parents actively participate in the intervention a minimum of 14 hours per week. The approach is desiged to enable parents to implement the startegies once the program ends. The expected benefits, which are already being realized, are significant skills development for the children in the program. This intense early intervention is designed to reduce the ongoing need for intense services as the children grow older.
Core Function(s):
Other Direct/Model Services
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Specific Groups
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
State
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
