In August 2014, Congress passed the bipartisan Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act (also known as the Autism CARES Act). The Act, a reauthorization of the Combating Autism Act, directs the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) to address the broad goal of enabling all children at risk for developing autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities (DD) to reach their full potential. Specific objectives of MCHB's Autism CARES Network include increasing awareness of ASD and other DD; reducing barriers to screening and diagnosis; supporting research on evidence-based interventions for ASD and other DD; promoting the development of evidence-based guidelines and tools for interventions; training professionals to use valid and reliable screening and diagnostic tools and provide evidence-based interventions for ASD and other DD; and improving systems of care for children and families affected by ASD and DD.

To reach these objectives, MCHB supports programs in four areas:

1) Interdisciplinary training programs including Leadership in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) and Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) programs;

2) Research programs including Autism Intervention Research Networks in Behavioral and Physical health (AIR-P and AIR-B); a Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Research Network (DBPNet); and R40 Extramural MCH Research and Secondary Data Analysis grantees;

3) State systems change grantees; and

4) A national evaluation of the CARES efforts.

MCHB also supports two resource centers, the Interdisciplinary Technical Assistance Center on Autism and Developmental Disabilities (ITAC) of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and the State Public Health Autism Resource Center (SPHARC) of the Association of Maternal Child Health Programs (AMCHP). These resource centers work closely with CARES grantees, partners, and MCHB to help them meet their objectives, ensure coordination of CARES projects, and host specific CARES grantee activities. These activities include face-to-face meetings and virtual activities that bring CARES grantees together yearly to problem-solve, share successes, and collaborate.

 

 

Autism CARES Grantee Network Meeting Archive

2019 Autism CARES Grantee Meeting

2019 Autism CARES Grantee Meeting  Copy to Calendar

Thursday, July 18, 2019 - Friday, July 19, 2019
Location: Washington, DC

The Autism CARES Network will meet in 2019 for an in-person event in Washington, DC on July 18-19. This will be an opportunity for MCHB-funded CARES legislation grantees (representing research, training, and state systems change stakeholders) to share information about activities within their respective networks, discuss emerging trends, and facilitate meaningful collaboration to address this challenging issue. These activities are hosted by ITAC, in collaboration with SPHARC and HRSA-MCHB.

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2018 Autism CARES Grantee Virtual Activities

2018 Autism CARES Grantee Virtual Activities  Copy to Calendar

Monday, October 29, 2018 - Monday, October 29, 2018
2:00pm ET
Location: Online

AUCD's ITAC hosts a bi-annual opportunity for MCHB-funded Autism CARES legislation grant recipients representing research, training, and state systems change stakeholders to share information about activities within their respective networks, discuss emerging trends, and facilitate meaningful collaboration. In 2018, the CARES Network activity was a series of three virtual activities exploring the topic of ableism.

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2017 Autism CARES Meeting: Pathways to Progress

2017 Autism CARES Meeting: Pathways to Progress  Copy to Calendar

Monday, July 10, 2017 - Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Location: Bethesda, MD

This bi-annual meeting was an opportunity for MCHB-funded Autism CARES legislation grant recipients representing research, training, and state systems change stakeholders to share information about activities within their respective networks, discuss emerging trends, and facilitate meaningful collaboration.

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2016 Autism CARES Grantee Virtual Meeting: Integrated, Person-Centered Approaches to Transition

2016 Autism CARES Grantee Virtual Meeting: Integrated, Person-Centered Approaches to Transition  Copy to Calendar

Thursday, July 21, 2016
1:00pm ET - 4:00pm ET
Location: virtual meeting

The 2016 Autism CARES Virtual Meeting was held virtually (i.e. through an online portal) on Thursday, July 21 as a half-day event exploring the topic of transition. During the meeting, MCHB-funded CARES legislation grantees (representing research, training, and state implementation stakeholders) shared information about activities within their respective networks, discussed emerging trends, and engaged in meaningful collaboration around transition research, policy and services.

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2015 Autism CARES Grantee Meeting: Implementing Evidence-Based Practices in Real World Settings

2015 Autism CARES Grantee Meeting: Implementing Evidence-Based Practices in Real World Settings  Copy to Calendar

Thursday, July 16, 2015 - Friday, July 17, 2015
Location: Bethesda, MD

This bi-annual meeting was 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.

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2014 CAAI Virtual Series

2014 CAAI Virtual Series  Copy to Calendar

Tuesday, April 1, 2014 - Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Location: online

This year, CAAI grantees have an opportunity to share their successes and discuss topics of mutual interest in a virtual environment. Activities will begin during Autism Awareness Month (April) and will end with an interactive poster symposium in late July.

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2013 CAAI Meeting: Putting the Pieces Together: Improving Access, Quality, and Integration Through CAAI

2013 CAAI Meeting: Putting the Pieces Together: Improving Access, Quality, and Integration Through CAAI  Copy to Calendar

Thursday, May 30, 2013 - Saturday, June 1, 2013
Location: Crystal City, VA

The May 2013 CAAI Meeting brought together individuals from the training, research, and state programs funded by HRSA/MCHB's Combating Autism Act Initiative, as well as partner organizations and supporters. Directors and key faculty from each of the CAAI grants (DBP, LEND, States, and Research) were all in attendance. NEW: Discussion notes and presentation materials from nearly every session are now available!

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2012 CAAI Webinar Series

2012 CAAI Webinar Series  Copy to Calendar

Monday, April 16, 2012 - Friday, August 31, 2012
Location: webinars

The CAAI Webinar series, "Research to Practice" showcased successes of CAAI grantees, connected attendees with other CAAI grantees, and informed each other of activities happening within the initiative. The series ran from April through August of 2012.

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2008 Combating Autism Act Initiative (CAAI) Kick-Off Meeting  Copy to Calendar

Monday, December 15, 2008 - Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Location: Washington, DC

This is the inaugural meeting for Combating Autism Act funded grantees.

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ITAC

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This website is provided in partial fulfillment of tasks outlined in a cooperative agreement (#2 UA5MC11068-15-00) between AUCD and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB). The contents of this website do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of MCHB, the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or the U.S. Government.