About the Lab
Learn more about the initiatives and activities within the Community Mental Health CORE (Collaboration, Outreach, Research, Equity).
Direct Services
These individual-level, gap-filling services focus on addressing the needs of children and families through consultation or direct clinical care:
- Autism Assessments Pilot in Primary Care
- HealthySteps
Enabling Services
These population and community-level services build capacity and connect families to needed resources:
- Early Childhood Mental Health Awareness Training (EC-MHAT)
- EVERFI-Children’s National Partnership for Mental Wellness Basics Online Curriculum
- HealthySteps Family Advisory Council
- Parent Cafés
Infrastructure Building Initiatives
These initiatives build sustainable foundations to promote accessible and equitable behavioral healthcare:
- Behavioral Health Transformation Workgroup
- Billing, Financing and Reimbursement
- Clark Parent Child Network Infant and Toddler Pillar
- CMH CORE Strategy Workgroup
- DC Autism Collaborative (DC-AC)
- DC Collaborative for Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care
- Early Childhood Innovation Network (ECIN) Community Building Meetings
- Maternal Mental Health in Pediatrics Workgroup
- Neurodevelopmental Workgroup
DC Autism Collaborative (DC-AC)
About Our Collaborative
The DC Autism Collaborative (DC-AC) is a multidisciplinary, public-private coalition of professionals, community leaders and parents to strategically address barriers to ASD care and advocate for solutions that will increase early and equitable access to high-quality ASD diagnosis, treatment and coordinated care.
Addressing the Autism Care Gap
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects 1 in 54 children in the United States. Children with ASD who receive early intervention have better outcomes. Yet, while ASD can be diagnosed as early as age 1-2 years, most children are not diagnosed until later with significant racial and socioeconomic disparities. Even once a diagnosis has been made, children with ASD often need to see several different medical, psychological and educational specialty service providers, which can be confusing and challenging for families to navigate.
These challenges disproportionately affect low-income children of color. Although a number of organizations serving children with ASD exist in the District of Columbia, there was no city-wide convening group focused on addressing these barriers and improving ASD care.
To address this gap, the DC Autism Collaborative (DC-AC) was launched in the summer of 2020 with startup funding from the Children's Health Board. Take a look at the participating organizations.
Areas of Focus
In September 2020, group members completed a needs assessment and identified priority areas to be addressed through the collaborative. The four subgroups that were created to begin tackling identified priorities and targeting specific goals to be addressed in the next 6-12 months, include:
Developmental Monitoring, Screening and Evaluations
This subgroup supports the implementation of universal, coordinated and strategic developmental monitoring and screening across the District of Columbia. In addition, the group develops and promotes algorithms for next steps.
Early Childhood Transition Points
This subgroup addresses common concerns that arise during transition points to improve the seamless provision of care.
Education, Outreach and Engagement
This subgroup identifies and strengthens education and outreach efforts related to ASD for families and care providers.
Policy
This subgroup addresses policy barriers that lead to delays in the identification and treatment of children with ASD, such as standardizing insurance requirements for making a diagnosis of ASD and streamlining the process for moving between MCOs.
Data
This subgroup aims to estimate the population-based prevalence of autism among children in Washington, D.C.
Community Resources and Support
This subgroup identifies and addresses barriers that the D.C. autism community experiences in accessing community resources and supports.
Supporting Your Child's Development
Learn what to do while you are waiting for a medical diagnostic evaluation for autism.
VIEW MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION (PDF) >
Autism Resource Guide for Community Providers
View resources that community providers in the D.C. area can use to navigate pediatric ASD concerns in early childhood.
DOWNLOAD AUTISM RESOURCE GUIDE (PDF) >
Developmental Monitoring, Screening, and Evaluation: A Guide for Health and Early Education Providers in D.C.
Take a look at the guide to help healthcare providers and educators in the D.C. area monitor childhood development.
DOWNLOAD GUIDE FOR HEALTH AND EARLY EDUCATION PROVIDERS (PDF) >
Contact Information
For questions or to learn more about the DC Autism Collaborative, please email our team.
