Title: COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA Office of Developmental Programs
1COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIAOffice of
Developmental Programs
- BUREAU OF AUTISM SERVICES
- Nina Wall-Côté, MSS, LSW
- Director
2OUR VALUES
- Support for those living with ASD throughout the
life span. - Support those living with ASD across the
spectrum. - Families need our support.
- Every person living with ASD can have an improved
quality of life given the right supports
delivered by trained staff. - Our goal is to increase independence and
self-sufficiency. - Need to explore innovative models.
3OUR BEGINNING
- THE PENNSYLVANIA AUTISM TASK FORCE
- Created by Secretary Richman in 2003
- Comprised of families, professionals and
educators - Submitted 1,000 page final report in December
2004 - The key recommendations from this report drive
the work of the Bureau of Autism Services
4BUREAU OF AUTISM SERVICESCentral and Regional
OfficesClinical Operational Staff Located in
all Three Regions
5Autism in Pennsylvania 19,951
- 1,400 Adults, 21 years of age and older -
Served by DPW - BAS will be looking further at other state
agencies and facilities to identify adults living
with ASD. - 4,377 - Under 21 served by DPW
- 3,940 Under 21 served in the autism category of
- special education
-
- 128 Under 21 - served in another category of
- special education
- 5,895 Under 21 - served through DPW and the
- autism category of special education
- 4,211 Under 21 - served through DPW and another
- special education exceptionality
6Autism in Pennsylvania
7What the Numbers Tell us
- The numbers in Pennsylvania are consistent with
the national data. - Rapidly increasing numbers and we do not
completely understand WHY. - Given the low number of adults, we know many
adults living with ASD were not captured in our
data.
8People Living with ASD Are In Virtually Every
System
- Education
- Mental Retardation
- Child Development and
- Early Learning
- Early Intervention
- Children, Youth and Families
- Mental Health
- Juvenile/Criminal Justice
- COLLABORATION IS NEEDED BETWEEN ALL SYSTEMS
9Challenges
- Increasing population
- Lack of trained professionals
- Limited resources
- Families stressed
- Need to
- Share responsibility and collaborate
- Address needs across the lifespan
- Look at the entire spectrum, not just those with
cognitive deficits - Support families
10SERVICES FOR ADULTS AND THEIR FAMILIES LIVING
WITH ASD
- AUTISM WAIVER - Began taking requests for
applications - July 1, 2008 toll free phone number to
request applications - is 1-866-539-7689, Option 1.
- ADULT COMMUNITY AUTISM PROGRAM
- (ACAP)
- Written approval received from the Center
for Medicare and - Medicaid Services (CMS) in January 2009.
Program to start - Spring 2009. Additional information can be
obtained by - calling 1-866-539-7689, option 5, then
option 2, if in - Pennsylvania, or 717-265-7760, if outside of
Pennsylvania.
11PA ADULT AUTISM WAIVER AND THE ADULT COMMUNITY
AUTISM PROGRAM (ACAP)
- Both delivery systems will serve adults, 21 years
and older, living with ASD and their families. - Both the Autism Waiver and ACAP are assessment
and outcome driven. - Assessments inform delivery of services
- Outcome determine measure of success
- Increased hours of employment (paid or volunteer)
- Decreased psychiatric hospitalizations and
medication - Decreased involvement with law enforcement
- Improved capacity to perform independently
- Decreased frequency and length of crises
- Decreased family stress
- Both require providers to complete ASD-specific
training and demonstrate competence. - Behavioral and crisis support are key services in
both programs. -
12PENNSYLVANIA AUTISM WAIVERFirst Waiver Targeting
Adults with ASD in the Nation!
- Response to key findings of the Autism Task
Force. - Specifically designed to meet the needs of people
living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Assessment and outcome driven. - Initial capacity will serve 200 individuals
statewide. - Providers are required to complete ASD-specific
training and demonstrate competence.
13AUTISM WAIVER
- To be eligible
- Live in Pennsylvania
- Have a diagnosis of ASD.
- Age 21 or older by the time of enrollment
- Meet Medical Assistance financial eligibility.
- Meet Intermediate Care Facility level of care.
- Intelligence (IQ) is not considered for
eligibility. - Waiver Services may include
- Respite - Family counseling
- Community inclusion - Day
habilitation - Supported employment - Family Training
- Job Assessment and Finding - Occupational
Therapy - Transitional Work Services - Supports
Coordination - Behavior supports - Speech/Language Therapy
- Crisis intervention - Residential habilitation
- Environmental modifications - Nutritional
consultation - Counseling - Assistive Technology
14Adult Community Autism Program (ACAP)
- Uses the federal PIHP (Prepaid Inpatient Health
Plan) funding model used currently by Long Term
Living one rate paid to one provider for an
array of services. - Pilot Program Will serve 200 individuals -
initially available in Cumberland, Dauphin, and
Lancaster counties only. - Additional ACAP programs will be rolled out in
the future as resources are available. - Assessment and outcome driven.
- Keystone Autism Services - ACAP provider
developing provider network to support an
individuals needs. - Flexible Offers a team approach, including the
individual, family, the ACAP Provider and health
professionals. ACAP Provider and their network
will offer an established list of services,
including physician/physical health services and
services to support the individual in the
community. Additional services can be provided
if cost effective and necessary to keep
individuals living in their communities.
15Adult Community Autism Program (ACAP)
- Designed for individuals
- Age 21 and older
- Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Be eligible for Medical Assistance
- Be certified as meeting Medical Assistance
Program clinical eligibility for Intermediate
Care Facility (ICF) services in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania - Not enrolled in a Medical Assistance home and
community based waiver program at the time of
application
16Adult Community Autism Program (ACAP)
- At the time of enrollment be able to live in a
community setting without sixteen (16) or more
awake paid and unpaid staff and supervision hours
per day without presenting extreme danger to self
or others or a threat to property - Does not exhibit levels of extremely problematic
behaviors that would present a danger to self or
others or threat to property - Reside in the service area at the time of
enrollment - Not enrolled in a Medical Assistance Managed Care
Organization (MCO) at the time of enrollment in
the Plan
17Adult Community Autism Program (ACAP)
- Supports May Include
- Coordination of Supports
- Medical/Physician Services
- Behavioral Health Services
- Respite
- Community Integration
- Support Employment
- Behavior Specialist Services
- Crisis Intervention
- Assistive Technology
- Family Counseling
18 Autism Services, Education, Research, and
Training (ASERT) Regional Centers
- Recommendation of the Autism Task Force
- Priority for Families
- Focus on training, applied research, service
delivery and information dissemination - Collaborative partnerships
- Needs assessment
- Support to BAS in efforts to build statewide
capacity
19Autism Services, Education, Research, and
Training (ASERT) Regional Centers
- Autism Services - Ensure that people living with
autism and their families, in every part of the
Commonwealth, can access quality supports and
interventions that are based on best practices
and provided by trained professionals - Education Develop educational materials
relative to ASD and disseminate to families,
providers and all other stakeholders. - Research - Research yielding practical and
measurable results that contributes to the
enhancement of quality of life for people with
autism and provide evidence-based information for
use by families and service providers. - Training Partners in the development of
standards and the professional capacity to
support the needs of individuals with ASD across
the lifespan.
20PA ASERT Regional Centers
- Bureau of Autism Services
- Nina Wall-Cote, MSS, LSW Director
- (717) 265-7760
- Carol Lynch, MBA
- ASERT Project Officer
- (717) 265-7760
- Claire Choutka, M.Ed., BCBA
- Clinical Director
- (717) 265-8963
- Erica Wexler, Project and Training Coordinator
- BAS Staff Support
- (215) 965-0547
- ASERT Contact Information
- Lindsay Lawer, MS
- Director PA Regional ASERT Center - East
- 215-746-6099
- llawer_at_mail.med.upenn.edu
- Â
- Shiyoko Cothren, M.H.A.
- Director - PA Regional ASERT Center - Central
- 717-851-7945
- scothren_at_psu.edu
- Â
- John McGonigle, Ph.D.
- Director PA Regional ASERT Center - West
- 412-246-6542
- mcgoniglejj_at_upmc.eduÂ
- Â
- Â
21 Act 62
- Significant collaboration of the public and
private sectors producing the most comprehensive
insurance legislation of its kind. - Act 62 mandates private insurers to begin
providing coverage, up to 36,000 annually, for
the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum
Disorders (ASD) for children under the age of 21
as of July 1, 2009. - The services and coverage mandated by this bill
are based on Medical Assistance (MA) definitions
and standards of care to ensure that essential
autism services are covered, including those to
prevent regression. - Medical Assistance (MA) remains a safety net.
- NEW Web site - www.PAAutismInsurance.org
-
- EMAIL QUESTIONS TO RA-IN-AUTISM_at_STATE.PA.US
22TRAINING FOR ADULT SERVICE PROVIDERS
- Training Needs of Adult Service Providers
- Few providers are prepared to meet the unique
needs of adults with ASD across settings. - Spectrum Training course
- Includes nationally recognized subject matter
experts and content. - Consists of nine (9), 45-minute classes.
- Requirement for providers in ACAP and the Autism
Waiver. - A CD-ROM version of the training is being
developed.
23FBA TRAINING
- We have provided regional Functional Behavioral
Assessment (FBA) Trainings to over 1400 BHRS
Behavioral Support Consultants (BSCs) and Adult
Service Provider Staff free of charge with free
continuing education credits (CEUs). - Fall 2008 classes are complete
- 2-Day FBA Workshop- 750 more were trained
- 1-Day Advanced FBA training for staff who have
completed the 2-day FBA workshop-additional 180
BSCs trained. - Train-the-Trainer sessions with accompanying
curriculum and DVD set are being conducted with
each behavioral health managed care company
(BHMCO), 8 sessions of 45-60 each total of 360
trainers trained. - FBA for TSS Staff Addressing Challenging
Behaviors - Downlinked in August to 800 Therapeutic Staff
Support (TSS) across the state. Training will be
up on the BAS training website soon. - Information about additional sessions will be
posted on our website as it becomes available
www.autisminpa.org
24SAVE the DATE!
- 2nd Annual Pennsylvania Autism Training
Conference - May 27-29, 2009
- Tentative Location
- Lancaster, PA
- Watch www.autisminpa.org for details!
25Continuing Education
- The Bureau of Autism Services is an approved
provider of continuing education credits for - Educators (Act 48)
- Social Workers
- Board Certified Behavioral Analysts (BCBA/BCABA)
- Psychologists (APA)
- National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)
-
26FAMILY ISSUES
- All families are unique
- Isolation and overwhelming stress
- Families have difficulty navigating the system
- Raising a child with ASD can be lonely, children
do not have many friends, siblings may feel left
out - Significantly higher divorce rate in marriages
for parents of children with ASD - Parents may have to quit job or reduce hours to
care for the child or adult with ASD - Parent groups are a great source of support,
information and community
27SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES
- Family and Individual Support Grants
- Families apply for up to 500 to assist with
respite care, community inclusion, home safety
modifications, summer programming, etc. - Based on feedback received from the autism
community over the past two years, the mini-grant
program has had meaningful impact on improving
the quality of life of individuals and families
living with ASD. - 2007 - Awarded over 1,300 PA families a total of
650,000 in 500 mini-grants - 2008 BAS funded more than one million dollars to
support over 2,000 families.
28BUREAU OF AUTISM SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD (BASAB)
- The BASAB is comprised of family members,
self-advocates, professionals, and advocates. - Members have been appointed by the Secretary for
Public Welfare and serve three-year terms. - Serve a vital role in linking the Bureau to the
larger Pennsylvania autism community and will
provide valuable input to BAS on important
initiatives. - Actively engaged with the ASERT regional centers.
- Provide advice on the initiatives, programs,
policies, and budget of the Bureau of Autism
Services offering input regarding the Bureaus
strategic plan.
29Biopsycho-Social Unit Western Psychiatric
Institute and Clinic (WPIC)
- Part of the University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center - Pilot program serving children/adolescents and
adults with ASD who can not be served by local
medical/psych resources - complex medication assessment issues
- co-morbid medical assessment needs
- multiple diagnosis issues
- program includes added training to support
careful return to school, home, and community
providers - admission coordinated with BAS clinical office
30Bureau of Autism ServicesNina Wall-Cote,
Director
- Email us at
- DPW-AutismOffice_at_state.pa.us
- Visit our Website www.autisminpa.org
- Contact us at 717-265-7760 or
- Toll Free in Pennsylvania at
- 866-539-7689