A Multisystem Approach to Improving Autism Care

Authors

Serene Habayeb, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia.
Anne Inge, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia.
Yetta Myrick, DC Autism Parents, Washington, District of Columbia.
Amanda Hastings, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia.
Melissa Long, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia.
Sarah Barclay Hoffman, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia.
Shaakira Parker, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia.
Penelope Theodorou, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Olivia Soutullo, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia.
Lee Beers, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia.
Leandra Godoy, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

11-1-2023

Journal

Pediatrics

Volume

152

Issue

5

DOI

10.1542/peds.2022-060584

Abstract

Children with autism face significant barriers to accessing evaluations and intervention services often because of confusing referral processes, lack of centralized coordination across organizations serving children with autism, insurance coverage gaps, multiyear waitlists for diagnostic services, and limited provider knowledge about autism. Racism and systemic inequities exist and persist in autism care across the United States. This article reviews targeted initiatives implemented by a multidisciplinary team to advocate for, and address barriers faced, by autistic children and their families in Washington, DC. We describe initiatives across multiple levels of the health care system including: 1. infrastructure-building initiatives (eg, coalition-building, policy, and advocacy); 2. enabling services (eg, population- and community-level supports that increase provider capacity to serve children's and families' needs); and 3. direct services (eg, innovative, gap-filling programs that directly serve children and families). We review outcomes and describe lessons learned.

APA Citation

Habayeb, Serene; Inge, Anne; Myrick, Yetta; Hastings, Amanda; Long, Melissa; Hoffman, Sarah Barclay; Parker, Shaakira; Theodorou, Penelope; Soutullo, Olivia; Beers, Lee; and Godoy, Leandra, "A Multisystem Approach to Improving Autism Care" (2023). GW Authored Works. Paper 3888.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/3888

Department

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences