MCHB Minute
MCHB Update - DMCHWD
Autism Awareness Month provides a chance for us to acknowledge the collective accomplishments of MCHB's Autism CARES investments and to reflect on where we can continue to move forward to achieve our shared goals. As programs, we have a lot to celebrate! Read more...
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MCH Navigator Self-Assessment: NOW ONLINE!
The Division of MCH Workforce Development is excited to announce the launch of the MCH Navigator's NEW online self-assessment tool! This tool helps identify your strengths and learning needs in the 12 MCH Leadership Competencies, matches your learning needs to appropriate trainings, and provides a customized learning plan to track your progress over time and guide you, your staff, and/or department in professional development activities. Read more...
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2015 Autism CARES Grantee Meeting
Proposal Deadline: April 24; Registration Deadline: June 2
This bi-annual meeting is an opportunity for MCHB-funded CARES legislation grantees (representing research, training, and state implementation stakeholders) to share information about activities within their respective networks, discuss emerging trends, and facilitate meaningful collaboration. Read more...
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Training Topics
2015 DBP Annual Meeting Overview
The annual meeting of the MCHB-funded Leadership Education in Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) Training Programs was hosted by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia DBP program on March 18-20, 2015. Approximately 35 faculty and 40 fellows from the 10 funded DBP training programs were in attendance at the meeting. Read more...
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Va-LEND Trainee Poster Presentations
On Wednesday, March 25, 2015 Virginia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) held its annual Research Poster Fair at the Kontos Medical Science Building at Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical Campus. Fourteen LEND trainees representing Occupational Therapy, Speech Language Pathology, Physical Therapy, Genetics, Nursing, Education, Social Work and Family disciplines presented posters based on original research or a literature review on a selected topic related to childhood disabilities. Read more...
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It Takes a Village to Raise the Bar on Early Autism Identification and Referral
The Utah Regional LEND program is tackling the problem of low identification rates for autism in children under 3 years. Within our five-state LEND, one state, Utah, has been part of the CDC/ADDM autism prevalence studies for several years. Although Utah's prevalence rate is always one of the highest, only 33% of children with autism are identified in medical or educational records before age 3. To change this statistic, URLEND trainees worked across organizational and agency boundaries to create a statewide Network for Early Autism Response. Read more...
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South Carolina LEND and Georgia LEND Collaborate at Regional Conference
The conference, which is co-sponsored by the Greenville Health System Children's Hospital and SC LEND again drew an interprofessional audience of over 150 from across South Carolina and neighboring states. The conference targets providers of services for children with ASD and related neurodevelopmental disabilities and features presentations and break-out sessions led by national keynote speakers, and LEND faculty from the three sites in South Carolina. Read more...
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Autism Research in Teens Utilizing the Rhode Island Statewide Autism Registry
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects as many as 1 in 68 children. Despite the fact that ASD is this common, there are no widely accepted way to measure the outcome of medical care or educational interventions for children and youth with ASD. In particular, patient reported outcomes are needed. The NIH has developed the Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) to provide tools for assessments in children and adults with many medical concerns, but they have not been used for or validated in children and youth with ASD. Read more...
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Va-LEND Trainee's Advocacy Helps Win Passage of New Law That Limits Use of Restraint, Seclusion of Schoolchildren in Virginia
Va-LEND trainee, Rebecca King, along with four fellow Social Work students at Virginia Commonwealth University played an instrumental role in the passage of SB 782, a bill that mandates the establishment of regulations that limit the use of restraint and seclusion in Virginia's public schools. Read more...
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CA-LEND Trainees' Leadership Projects Enhance UCEDD Grant to Improve Developmental and Autism Screening and Linkage in Underserved Communities
The CA-LEND program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles provided leadership opportunities for trainees through a grant funded by First 5 LA (First Connections), designed to increase access to developmental and autism screening and linkage for young children in underserved communities. Read more...
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ME UCEDD, NH LEND Faculty and Trainees, and Maine DD Council Collaborate on Research Report on Healthcare Access for Individuals with ASD in Maine
The University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies, Maine's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) and also a NH LEND program partner; recently collaborated with the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council on a research report, Accessing Healthcare: The Experience of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Maine (2014). Read more...
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University of Iowa Children's Hospital Autism Center: "Understanding Autism" Workshop Series
University of Iowa Children's Hospital Autism Center offers an "Understanding Autism" workshop series for professionals and families. Two upcoming workshops are focused on genetics and caregiver wellness. Read more...
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OHSU Autism Webinar Series
Please join the OHSU Institute on Development & Disability as we help celebrate Autism Awareness Month with a month-long Wednesday webinar series! This free online seminar and discussion brings together the top experts in Autism at OHSU, providing a quick overview of several autism topics throughout the month. Simply join the webinar at 12:30 on each Wednesday in April. No registration needed! A question and answer period will be held at the end of each presentation for those interested. We hope you can join us! Read more...
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Research Roundup
The Art of Camouflage: Understanding the social behaviors of girls with ASD
To deepen our understanding of girls with ASD, we examined the social behaviors of children with and without ASD at school. This study is a secondary analysis of observation data (Playground Observation of Peer Engagement (POPE)) that were collected on the playground during recess through the MCHB-funded Autism Intervention Research Network on Behavioral Health (AIR-B). Read more...
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AIR-P Network Activities
The Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) conducts research on evidence-based interventions to improve the physical health and well-being of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. Read more...
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Unmet Need for Therapy Services Among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
One of the strategic research areas identified by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau is addressing health disparities and service access barriers among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While studies examining access to family centered and specialty care exist for this population, there is less literature specifically addressing barriers to accessing therapy services for children with ASD relative to children with other special health care needs (CSHCN). Read more...
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Newly-published Breakthrough Study Offers Hope to Families of Children with Autism
New research published in the peer-reviewed journal, Autism Research and Treatment, offers hope and assistance to parents of children with autism and early childhood special education programs. The large federal autism study, conducted by Teaching Research Institute, Western Oregon University, confirmed over ten previous studies reporting effectiveness of a breakthrough treatment for children with autism. Funding for the study was received from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau through Autism CARES. Read more...
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University of Iowa Telehealth Project Brings Behavioral Treatment for Autism to Rural Areas
University of Iowa LEND psychology faculty and trainees have an ongoing, highly active research program which has been translated into practice serving children with disabilities throughout Iowa. Many of their scientific findings have had a national impact as evidenced by the number of posters and presentations accepted at national conferences and the number of papers published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Read more...
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Problem-solving Skills Training for Mothers of Children Recently Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A pilot feasibility study
Problem-solving skills training is an intervention designed to teach coping skills that has shown to decrease negative affectivity (depressive symptoms, negative mood, and post-traumatic stress symptoms) in mothers of children with cancer. The objective of this study was to see whether mothers of children recently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder would be receptive to receiving problem-solving skills training (feasibility trial). Read more...
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State Stories
Massachusetts: Considering Culture in Autism Screening
During the 2015 AMCHP Annual Conference, Massachusetts state team leads presented a skills-based training session on its Considering Culture in Autism Screening curriculum. This interactive, case-based training session focused on about culturally competent screening, evaluation, and referral to intervention services for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)/developmental disabilities (DD). Read more...
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Collaborators' Corner
Updates from the State Public Health Autism Resource Center
AMCHP's mission is to support state maternal and child health programs by providing national leadership on issues affecting woman and children. In support of this mission, the State Public Health Autism Resource Center (SPHARC) has several new activities planned, along with presentations, webinars and technical assistance opportunities designed to aid and assist ASD/DD grantees. Read more...
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Developmental Disabilities and Transition
Got Transition has updated an extensive set of resources related to health care transition, including a section on Developmental Disabilities and transition. Other transition resources available on the site relate to such topics as employment, education, independent living, mental health, foster care, guardianship and decision-making, self-care, medical home, and more. Read more...
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Autism NOW Employer Toolkit
Autism NOW created a toolkit and designed it for employers to hire, train, and retain employees with an ASD as well as other disabilities. It is written from the perspective of the individual on the autism spectrum about what employers need to know and things the employer can do to learn more about ASD. It includes tips, tricks, and personal stories from individuals on the spectrum about their challenges in the workplace and what they want employers to know. Read more...
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2015 AMCHP Conference Materials
To access presentations/handouts from the 2015 program, click here, using the event code "amchp". Any presentations received will be added into the session description. Read more...
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Texas Act Early Ambassador in the News
Dr. Pauline Filipek, Act Early Ambassador for Texas, and the director of The Autism Center at the Children's Learning Institute at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), has written an article for the Sugar Land Sun newspaper on early identification for children with autism. Read more...
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The Autism Society National Autism Awareness Month 2015 toolkit is here!
The Autism Society is providing you with this toolkit to complement your National Autism Awareness Month programming and hope you will share it with your partners, collaborators, supporters and constituents. The digital guide contains a wealth of promotional resources and collateral to enhance your National Autism Awareness Month campaign. Download your National Autism Awareness Month toolkit via DropBox. Read more...
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ITAC Items
New Report Outlines Opportunities, Challenges for LEND and DBP Programs
As the next five-year funding cycle for the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) programs approaches, AUCD took the opportunity to pause and engage in strategic thinking about future directions for the LEND and Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) training programs. Read more...
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April: Autism Awareness and Acceptance
AUCD envisions a future in which all people - including those living with autism and related developmental disabilities - are fully included, participating members of their communities. We advocate for equitable access to supports and services that lead to self-determination, independence, productivity, and a healthy and satisfying quality of life. Read more...
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2015 Autism CARES Grantee Meeting: Implementing Evidence Based Practices into Real World Settings
This bi-annual meeting is an opportunity for MCHB-funded Autism CARES legislation grantees representing research, training, and state implementation stakeholders to share information about activities within their respective networks, discuss emerging trends, and facilitate meaningful collaboration. This meeting is hosted by ITAC, in collaboration with SPHARC and HRSA-MCHB. Read more...
Act Early Network Virtual Networking Event
Celebrate Autism Awareness Month with the Act Early Network and attend the Act Early Network Virtual Networking Event on Thursday, April 23, 3pm-4pm ET. By attending, you will gain knowledge on effective program methods and strategies that have improved the early identification of autism and other developmental disabilities. Read more...
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Now Archived: CMS Guidance and Autism Spectrum Disorders
On February 11, 2015, AUCD sponsored a webinar on CMS Guidance and Autism Spectrum Disorders. The webinar and materials are now archived on the AUCD website. Read more...
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