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Considering Culture in Autism Screening Kit (A Project of the MA Shriver LEND)

March 26, 2013

To improve cultural and linguistic equity in identifying children in Massachusetts at risk for ASD and other developmental disorders, the MA Act Early State Team was awarded a 2012 State Systems grant from AMCHP to disseminate the Considering Culture in Autism Screening kit that the team conceived of and developed. The kit educates pediatric providers about how to deliver culturally and linguistically competent autism screening and referral services for families whose primary language is not English. 

The kit focuses on Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Spanish, or Vietnamese speaking populations and includes:  (1) an ASD screening guide that shares cultural competence practice tips; (2) written case vignettes to illustrate cultural norms related to screening for each featured culture; (3) the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) , in English, Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Spanish, and Vietnamese translations, (4) local and national autism resource/referral information; and (5) an assortment of CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." materials for use in practice. The kit has been disseminated to 55 community health centers and 200 pediatric practices in Massachusetts and is currently available for free online at www.MAActEarly.org. 

The MA Act Early State Team is coordinated by Elaine Gabovitch, MPA, Instructor in Family Medicine & Community Health at the University of Massachusetts Medical School/Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, Director of Family & Community Partnerships, Shriver Center LEND Program, State Team Leader, Massachusetts Act Early Program, and CDC Act Early Ambassador for Massachusetts.  Other LEND members of the Considering Culture project team include: Kathleen Braden, MD, Director, UMass Medical School/ Shriver Center LEND Program, David Helm, PhD, Director, UMass Boston/Institute for Community Inclusion LEND Program, Stephanie Blenner, MD, Boston Medical Center (Shriver LEND alum), and Nicole Prudent, MD, Boston Medical Center (Shriver LEND alum).