North Carolina Autism State Implementation Grant Collaborates with State Early Interventionists for Autism Training

December 15, 2015

The North Carolina Autism State Implementation Grant (NC-SIG) trains early interventionists on autism diagnostic assessments and intervention. Targeted efforts have been made with the state's 16 Children's Developmental Services Agencies (CDSAs), which provide early intervention services to families across North Carolina's 100 counties. The NC Division of Public Health's Infant-Toddler Program funds the CDSAs.

Nearly 60 CDSA early interventionists will be trained through workshops and webinars by conclusion of the NC-SIG in 2016. Dr. Pamela DiLavore, Associate Director of the Chapel Hill TEACCH Center and NC-SIG team member, has provided three in-person trainings and two follow-up webinars on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd Edition. Nearly 40 CDSA interventionists participated in Dr. DiLavore's trainings. In addition, Dr. Lauren Turner Brown, Assistant Director of the University of North Carolina TEACCH Autism Program and NC-SIG team member, will be presenting two, two-day workshops on the Family Implemented TEACCH for Toddlers program. With the support of the NC-SIG, 20 CDSA interventionists will participate in these trainings.

The NC-SIG has conducted follow-up evaluations with training participants to determine the sustainability of these efforts for systems-level change. These evaluations have indicated a positive increase in early interventionists' comfort and skill level with autism diagnostic tools.

Please click here for more information. If you have additional questions, contact Emily Kertcher, Project Coordinator for the NC Autism State Implementation Grant, at [email protected].