Pathways to Access for Autism Services and Supports

2019

"Pathways to Access for Autism Services and Supports" is the name of Wisconsin's project as part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) "States of Solutions" initiative. The purpose of the WI project is to enhance efforts of the WI Act Early State Team to reduce health disparities for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families in medically underserved communities. The CDC estimates that 1 in 68 children has ASD, children who are black, Hispanic, or of low socioeconomic status are far less likely to be diagnosed and to access services. WI collaborators are working to ensure equity in access to ASD services and support at both the systems and community levels. Through this project, members of the Act Early State Team mobilized in-kind technical assistance, training, and meeting facilitation from RWJF and IHI to build community capacity for accomplishing sustainable change related to access to autism diagnosis and services. Specifically, rural community leaders in Grant and Crawford county were supported to launch a local Equity Action Lab, a structured 100-day action period, and a final Momentum Lab to celebrate progress and organize next steps. This project is expected to increase community member knowledge and skill related to systems change, and build local rural capacity for early identification and referral for ASD.

health equity; autism; rural

Continuing Education/Community Training

Education & Early Intervention, Health-Related Activities

Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, Legislators/Policy Makers, General Public

Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote

Mulit-County

N/A