News
1/2/2018
Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All - Patti Killingsworth
In this week's edition of 'Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All', Liz interviews Patti Killingsworth, (Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of TennCare) about long term supports and services, and the Federal Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Rule.
12/26/2017
Tuesdays with Liz: 2017 Holiday Special
In this week's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz shares with the viewers which 5 interviews were her favorite to film this year, and why.
12/20/2017
AUCD Emerging Leaders Map
Showcasing Trainees & Early Career Professionals within the AUCD network
The AUCD Emerging Leaders Map aims to highlight trainees and early career professionals, and their contributions to the AUCD network, while demonstrating the diverse backgrounds and professional orientation of trainees. AUCD is currently seeking emerging leaders to spotlight on the map. Selected individuals will be contacted for additional information and the AUCD Emerging Leaders Map will offically launch in February 2018.
12/20/2017
NH Occupational Health Surveillance Program Releases Report on Barriers to Breastfeeding (NH UCEDD/LEND)
In New Hampshire 8 out of every 10 mothers initiates breastfeeding after birth, however only 3 mothers continue breastfeeding the full 12 months as suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This and other findings are highlighted in a new report from the New Hampshire Occupational Health Surveillance Project (NH OHSP).
12/19/2017
Tuesdays with Liz - Tom Sannicandro
In this week's edition of 'Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All', Liz interviews Tom Sannicandro, (Director of the Institute on Community Inclusion) about the connection between his job as a director of a UCEDD and his experience as a state legislator in the Massachusetts legislature.
12/18/2017
AIR-P Network Activites
The Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P), led by Karen Kuhlthau, PhD, 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, with an emphasis on underserved communities. Two key goals of the AIR-P network are 1) to conduct multi-site research on evidence-based interventions that improve physical health of children and adolescents with ASD and developmental disorders, especially underserved populations and 2) to transform AIR-P into a multi-site Learning Network (LN) which will provide a collaborative laboratory for developing and testing evidence-based interventions and accelerating the adoption of effective interventions and system management approaches into practice.
12/18/2017
Announcing 2018 FAST Projects: Five Programs that Increase Diversity, Improve Program Evaluation or Leverage Technology to Provide Statewide TA and Training Awarded Supplementary Project Funds
In July of 2017, AUCD indicated an ability to provide supplementary funding and targeted assistance to programs working to address these identified areas of need in ways that could be replicated by other programs or could benefit the broader network. After careful review of a diverse pool of program proposals, five programs were selected to receive Focused Assistance to Support Training (FAST) Projects which includes up to $8,000 in supplemental funding.
12/18/2017
DBPNet Finds More Prescription of Psychotropic Medication for Young Children with ASD and Medicaid Compared to Private Insurance
PROGRAM: University of Washington PATHWAYS Project
The Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Research Network (DBPNet) is a 14 site Network whose mission is "to conduct collaborative, interdisciplinary research in developmental and behavioral pediatrics that advances clinical practice, supports research training, and optimizes the health and functional status of children with developmental and behavioral concerns and disorders, including children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities". �
12/18/2017
Expanding Statewide Developmental Screening and Monitoring through Deputy Ambassador Network
By Robin Hansen, MD
Our AMCHP State Systems grant has identified "LTSAE Deputy Ambassadors" from across the state to assist the State Ambassadors in disseminating information about LTSAE in order to support the use of these resources as a component of Child Find and parent supported developmental monitoring. During our first two years of this grant, we have recruited thirty "Deputy Ambassadors" canvasing the entire state of California. We have worked with the California Autism Professional Training and Information Network (CAPTAIN), which is an existing statewide network of trainers from our education system, developmental disabilities (Part C) system and family resource centers.
12/18/2017
Facing Your Fears in Schools: Implementing a CBT Program for Students with ASD or Other Learning Needs and Anxiety
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or other learning needs are at high risk for developing psychiatric symptoms, and anxiety disorders are among the most common co-occurring conditions (Simonoff et al. 2008).� Anxiety markedly interferes with peer relationships, family functioning and participation in academic programming (Wood, 2006).� Few children with ASD or other learning needs have access to interventions that address this important mental health concern.� Schools represent one of the only consistent resources available to students with ASD or other learning needs and their families.� Providing services in schools increases access by overcoming the barriers to care faced by many families.� We are particularly invested in meeting the needs of underserved students, including students from low-income families and/or underrepresented racial/ethnic minority students, as they are at increased risk for experiencing significant co-occurring mental health symptoms, yet encounter significant disparities in access to mental health services.�
12/18/2017
Including Family Voices to Improve Service Delivery to Multilingual & Underserved Young Children with ASD
A MPS ASD Family Voices & MNLEND Partnership
The ASD Family Voices Project is an initiative of Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) that focuses to improve service delivery to multilingual and underserved young children (3-5 years) with ASD and their families. In the 2016-2017 school year, MPS and MNLEND launched a collaborative partnership to create an evaluation project to analyze the effectiveness of MPS services and processes for multilingual children and families who receive services in the Early Education, Special Education and Multilingual Departments.
12/18/2017
Introducing the Washington Autism Alliance & Advocacy Family Navigation Online Training Module
By Maria Cortes, MSW Student, and Jen St. Cyr, Director of Family Services
At the Washington Autism Alliance & Advocacy (WAAA), we are excited for the opportunity to collaborate with partner agencies in Washington State through a generous autism-focused grant from the Washington State Department of Health made possible by AMCHP. A product of this collaboration is our new Family Navigation Online Training. You can find it here: http://training.washingtonautismadvocacy.org/
12/18/2017
MCHB Minute - December 2017
As we near the end of 2017, we can reflect on and be proud of the many accomplishments across all of our Autism CARES programs! Together, we are improving the care and outcomes for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities (DDs) through training, advancing best practices, and service. We are advancing innovative approaches to reach underserved populations that increase access to comprehensive coordinated care.
12/18/2017
New R41 Funded to Expand Pathways to Early Screening and Intervention for Underserved Toddlers with ASD
PROGRAM: University of Washington PATHWAYS Project
The UW READi Lab received a 3-year HRSA award in September 2017 for a grant entitled, "Expanding Pathways to Early Screening and Intervention for Underserved Toddlers with ASD." The purpose of the PATHWAYS project is to reduce health care disparities and improve early access to ASD-specialized services for low-income English- and Spanish-speaking families. We are partnering with health care, early intervention, and early learning agencies/programs. In the first phase, we are conducting focus groups with community providers and families to understand the barriers and facilitators to communicating about ASD concerns. Based on the information obtained, we will design shared decision-making materials for use in the second phase of the grant. �
12/18/2017
RI LEND/DBP Connections
The Division of DBP at Brown/Hasbro Children's Hospital has graduated 19 DBP fellows since 2003 when they were one of the first programs to receive ACGME accreditation.
12/18/2017
Seeking Volunteers / Nominations for a New Autism CAREs Planning Committee
In preparation for the 2018 Autism CARES Network virtual activities, AUCD is looking for planning committee members who can represent the voices of the training, research, and state systems change grantees. This year as we expand the planning committee to represent the diverse perspectives within the CARES network, we are seeking nominations from grantees; self-nominations are welcome. While we continue to value the wisdom and expertise of established network leaders, we are also hoping to leverage new ideas from emerging leaders involved with implementing the goals of the grantee network. If you are interested in participating in the planning committee or would like to nominate someone from your program, project or coalition, please email Sarah DeMaio at [email protected].
