Maine Developmental Disabilities Council

CDC Act Early

The Council is very pleased to be involved in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Learn the Signs, Act Early campaign with Nancy Cronin having been appointed as the Act Early Ambassador for the state of Maine.

To learn more about Learn the Signs, Act Early visit the CDC's website.

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS STATE IMPLEMENTATION GRANT

Autism Implementation Grant Final Report

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services has contracted with the MDDC to manage a three-year grant award by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, using funds from the Combating Autism Act Initiative. The grant is intended to improve health outcomes for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) by identifying ASDs early and providing effective, coordinate treatment and a long-term comprehensive medical home for each person with an ASD.

Grant activities include development of a standardized screening process for young children utilizing existing resources, streamlining referral and access to early intervention services, and expanding training opportunities for primary care physicians and other medical personnel to expand their capacity to provide high quality medical homes for their patients with ASDs. Now in the third and final year of the grant, the Autism Implementation Grant has accomplished much towards the goal of prompt early identification, smooth entry into early intervention, and improving the health of individuals with ASDs in Maine.