Project Description:
We propose a planning grant to develop a sustainable model for in-service training for primary healthcare professionals in Central Illinois to help them improve earlier identification of children with ASD, address related medical issues and to support their families. Across the state, Illinois LEND (IL LEND) strives to build clinical capacity through academic and community partnerships. However, despite our programs statewide efforts, Central Illinois, which is predominantly rural, remains an underserved region for ASD services and supports. This is due to the shortage of developmental pediatricians and other clinical specialists in the area. About a third of Illinois children reside outside of the metropolitan Chicago area and many of these rural families have to travel to neighboring states (e.g., Missouri and Indiana) in order to obtain necessary health and therapeutic services. In order to increase clinical capacity for ASD services and supports in the region, we propose to leverage and to strengthen the expertise of the existing workforce, especially rural primary healthcare professionals.
Due to the shortage of developmental pediatricians in rural Illinois, diagnoses of ASD are increasingly being provided by non-medical specialists, such as clinical psychologists. This strategy is a cost-effective way to provide ASD diagnoses to rural families who, otherwise, would not be able to access this critical service necessary to access evidence-based interventions. Yet, children with ASD still have medical issues that need to be addressed by a primary healthcare professional with familiarity and expertise with ASD. Through the planning grant, we propose to develop a training model for rural primary healthcare professionals to help them become more competent and comfortable to provide medical and family supports that are commonly needed among families with newly diagnosed children with ASD. Strategies to enhance early detection of ASD by these primary care providers will also be included.
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote
