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:
- Interdisciplinary training programs, including Leadership in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) and Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) programs;
- 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;
- State systems change grantees; and
- 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.
2021 Committing to Health Equity Across the Lifespan
July 21, 2021
The 2021 Autism CARES Meeting was held Wednesday, July 21st, via Zoom. This virtual event is an opportunity for HRSA-funded CARES grantees (representing research, training, and state systems) to share information about activities within their respective networks, discuss emerging trends, and facilitate meaningful collaboration. VIEW ARCHIVE
2019 Autism CARES Grantee Meeting
July 18, 2019
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. VIEW ARCHIVED Info
2018 Autism CARES Grantee Virtual Activities
October 29, 2018
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. VIEW ARCHIVED Info
2017 Autism CARES Meeting: Pathways to Progress
July 10, 2017
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. VIEW ARCHIVED Info
2016 Autism CARES Grantee Virtual Meeting: Integrated, Person-Centered Approaches to Transition
July 21, 2016
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. VIEW ARCHIVED Info
2015 Autism CARES Grantee Meeting: Implementing Evidence-Based Practices in Real World Settings
July 16, 2015
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. VIEW ARCHIVED Info
April 1, 2014
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. VIEW ARCHIVED Info
May 30, 2013
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! VIEW ARCHIVED Info
April 16, 2012
The CAAI Webinar series, “Research to Practice,” showcased the 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. VIEW ARCHIVED Info
2011 CAAI Meeting: Reflecting on Results, Building on Progress
January 13, 2011
This year’s meeting focused on highlighting and sharing results from the past 2 years of CAAI activities. Meeting presentations and materials are available for download. VIEW ARCHIVED Info
2009 CAAI Meeting: Charting the Course, Tracking Progress
December 7, 2009
The 2009 CAAI Program Meeting was held at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Bethesda, MD. VIEW ARCHIVED Info
2008 Combating Autism Act Initiative (CAAI) Kick-Off Meeting
December 15, 2008
This is the inaugural meeting for Combating Autism Act funded grantees. VIEW ARCHIVED Info
2023 Autism CARES Grantee Meeting 