Beyond Training Trainees: Leveraging LEND to Increase Access to
Autism Knowledge and Services in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Care Integration Initiative
1) Increase family-centered integrated systems of care for children
with autism and other developmental disabilities in medically
underserved
2) Implement community-based quality improvement projects in
urban and rural communities
3) Support utilization of evidence-based strategies of
telehealth/telemedicine, family navigation, and shared resource
Waisman Center Clinics
11 specialty clinics (http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/Clinics.htm)
Operated in partnership with UW Health, including American Family
Childrens Hospital
Provide interdisciplinary, family-centered care, training site for WI
LEND trainees
Outreach activities include annual Day with the Experts on Autism
LEND faculty are speakers and LEND sponsors statewide broadcast,
over 600 onsite and distance participants per year
Increasing number of autism diagnostic visits and addition of
treatment services
Role of WI LEND in Increasing Access to Autism Knowledge and Services
Anne Bradford Harris, PhD, MPH, RD, Waisman Center, UCEDD/LEND
Gail Chdrn, PhD, Waisman Center, UCEDD/LEND
Community of Practice on ASD/DD
The purpose of the Community of Practice on Autism Spectrum Disorders
and Other Developmental Disabilities (CoP ASD/DD) is to bring together
diverse stakeholders from across the state to:
learn together
exchange information, opinions and resources
engage in partnerships and collaborative efforts
The CoP ASD/DD aims to improve the formal and informal systems of
services and supports for individuals with ASD/DD, their families, and the
professionals who work with them.
Act Early State Team
1) Initiate and build on relationships among key autism stakeholders
2) Develop and sustain a State Plan to improve systems of care for
children with autism and their families
3) Support ongoing statewide coordination, family engagement, and
data collection/evaluation
Transitioning Together
1) Research-based psychoeducational model for families of youth with
ASD to promote successful transition practices for youth with ASD and their families
2) Transitioning Together (TT) shown to be successful in improving youth social engagement and
parental problem solving and well-being
3) TT curriculum has been adapted for Spanish-speaking families, for school-based delivery, and
for young adults with challenges in
getting/keeping employment (Working Together)
Interdisciplinary groups of LEND trainees and faculty involved in:
original research, TT protocol development and implementation
developing a translational research protocol to test the model as a
clinical intervention
collaborating with another state LEND and parent group to develop Spanish-language version
participating in national implementation of school-based intervention
LEND Milwaukee-Link
1) Expand WI LEND using distance technology to
UW-Milwaukee campus in underserved city with
excessive health disparities Milwaukee-Link faculty and trainees
participate in planning and implementation
2) Strengthen WI LEND link with MCH Pipeline program, of the Urban Autism Summit a community
recruit and train an increasingly diverse group of outreach effort to engage with families from
underserved communities in Milwaukee.
trainees representing the local community and who While mostly volunteer effort, WI LEND
intend to practice there co-sponsors the event. Participation has
grown, recently over 150 adults and children
3) Develop and sustain an interdisciplinary, family- attended with 40% Spanish-speaking families.
centered teaching clinic for ASD diagnosis and rule
out to increase access to these services in the
community
Increasing the racial/ethnic diversity of Long Term Trainees:
UW Madison UW Milwaukee-Link Totals
2013-14 28 4 32
2014-15 28 6 34
2015-16 32 7 39
2016-17 33 5 38
#/% nonwhite 13/122= 11% 9/22= 41% 15%
IMPACT on AUTISM KNOWLEDGE and SERVICES in WISCONSIN
Research - Transitioning Together went from research to practice, and was adapted to different
cultural and linguistic groups and settings
Training - Milwaukee training site was established with interdisciplinary autism diagnostic clinic,
Waisman Center ASD diagnostic clinic and treatment program are serving more children and training
more trainees
Outreach - Waisman Center Day with the Experts Autism and Community of Practice on ASD/DD
in-person and distance events educate thousands of families and professionals each year
Collaboration - Statewide Community of Practice on ASD, Act Early State Team, and Urban Autism
Summit were sustained for nearly a decade with increasing partnerships
Community Engagement - Number and diversity of stakeholders engaged in collaborative efforts,
training, and translational research increased and additional funding obtained