FIVE STEPS FOR SUCCESS:
AUTISM DIAGNOSIS EDUCATION PILOT PROJECT
Overarching Goal: Engage families, child care providers, educators, health care professionals, and leaders in their communities in identifying opportunities to promote early identification of autism using standardized methods, while facilitating regional coordination of linkages with timely, effective services for children with autism spectrum disorders.
1. Engage primary care health professionals in continuing education that will lead to implementation of enhanced developmental surveillance, and use of standardized developmental screening tools, including tools for autism, following American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines.
2. Identify, educate, and support community-based primary care practices who will partner with early intervention and early childhood education assessment teams in their communities to offer a standardized, comprehensive diagnostic evaluation for children with concerns in language and social development, including autism.
3. Develop stand alone educational opportunities specifically for residents in pediatrics and family medicine, but made available to other health professionals as a member benefit.
4. Work with the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services Bureau of Child Care, Healthy Child Care Ohio, the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association, and local providers to identify and develop opportunities for collaboration to promote Step Up to Quality, including implementation of developmental screening in child care settings, while enhancing communication between child care providers and health professionals. In addition, identify strategies to enhance communication regarding developmental screening and concerns between Head Start and other preschool providers, and health professionals.
5. Develop and disseminate a public awareness campaign to promote the importance of addressing developmental concerns early and the value of early and repeated developmental screening, including for autism.
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Click here for a graphic friendly version of our five step program.