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When a provider refers a child to be tested for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it begins a diagnosis process that can take more than a year to complete. Unfortunately, the family’s need for help can’t be put on hold.
Understanding this, the MetroHealth Autism and Neurobehavior Clinic is partnering with Milestones Autism Resources to bring the Milestones’ HelpDesk to the community, providing education and support to families awaiting results of their children’s autism assessment. The long wait for appointments is a dilemma for clinics across the country that are trying to meet the high demand for autism assessment services with limited capacity.
MetroHealth is known for its innovation in addressing the challenges children with autism and their families face. The collaboration with Milestones to expand the HelpDesk is an example of that innovation. Milestones is regarded as a trusted leader in autism education, working with families and professionals throughout Northeast Ohio.
“Early intervention is crucial to effectively supporting patients and their families,” said Melissa Armstrong-Brine, PhD, a clinical psychologist who directs the MetroHealth Autism Assessment Clinic (MAAC), part of the MetroHealth Autism and Neurobehavior Clinic. “The HelpDesk can help get them started with critically needed services like occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. They can begin the school-based evaluations to get into special education preschool or to see if their child qualifies for Head Start programing. This partnership with Milestones is going to make a real difference for these children and their families.”
The HelpDesk, funded through a grant to Milestones from United Way of Greater Cleveland, the Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation, and the Mt. Sinai Health Foundation, launched August 9 to serve families of children ages five and under. MetroHealth providers can refer families to the HelpDesk, where Milestones’ experts in social work, mental health and special education can guide them to additional resources and help them develop both short- and long-term plans.
The HelpDesk is part of a growing partnership between MetroHealth and Milestones. Other components of this partnership include plans for Milestones staff to train MetroHealth providers and staff across all disciplines to better understand the needs of their patients with autism, so they can provide inclusive and equitable care.
ASD is a lifelong neurological and developmental condition that impacts an individual’s behavior, social interaction, communication and sensory processing. Typically diagnosed in childhood, ASD affects one in 36 children in the United States.
Eira Yates, Vice President of Education & Services at Milestones Autism Resources, said the organization’s goal is to reach more children from Black, Hispanic and other traditionally underserved communities, which MetroHealth has been serving for more than 180 years.
“MetroHealth’s work with Hispanic and Black families makes them a great partner for us,” Yates said. “Our next strategic plan is to expand into these underserved communities, and how wonderful it is that MetroHealth is providing a warm hand-off to us.”
MetroHealth has been a pioneer in addressing and overcoming the cultural and social barriers to autism care that many of its patients face.
With a grant from The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation in 2017, the MAAC established a clinic staffed by Spanish-speaking providers to meet the needs of the System’s Spanish-speaking patients. A gift from JoAnn and Bob Glick in 2019, further expanded the capacity to serve this growing population. Observations from this clinic’s staff and faculty already have yielded proposals for research studies, including investigating how cultural backgrounds influence nonverbal behaviors of communication in children with autism.
Dr. Armstrong-Brine said a significant part of the MetroHealth Autism and Neurobehavior Clinic’s mission is to provide culturally sensitive services to families with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
The expanded HelpDesk, which includes a Spanish-speaking member of Milestones’ staff, is a valuable extension of that work.
“We realize how stressful it is for families as they wait to hear about their child and what they should do next to help them,” Dr. Armstrong-Brine said. “We know that underrepresented families are impacted in a much more negative way by this wait. We can’t always take away that wait, but our partnership with Milestones will allow us to bring services to our patients and their families while they wait. The HelpDesk is going to support their needs in a pretty great way.”
Milestones experts will staff the HelpDesk at the autism assessment clinics at the Parma Medical Center from 1 to 4 p.m. on Fridays and have future plans to include the Buckeye Health Center from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursdays. In addition, MetroHealth providers can refer families to the HelpDesk electronically at any time as part of the project.
This article was originally published by a news.metrohealth.org . Read the Original article here. .