Providers differ in whether they screen by concern or universally. Including screenings as part ofroutine activities (intake or re-evaluations) increases rates of completion. A screening tracking systems helps providers know who is due for screening.

Spanish-speaking EI providers have increased work demands (large caseloads and more responsibilities) that affect Spanish-speaking families being screened.Conducted discussion groups with these providers to promote & support screening Advocated for training opportunities for these providers

New EI providers are unfamiliar with the diagnostic assessment process.Support providers in attending assessments, improving their awareness of the range of ASD early presentation. Periodic newsletters from our project remind providers of the visit process.

Successes: The wait time between a positive Stage 2 screen and a diagnostic assessment appointment (Stage 3) is only 17.7 days.Our numbers suggest that a minimum of 7% of children receiving EI are likely to meet criteria for ASD. We have held several trainings in the STAT, our Stage 2 screener, training a total of 23 EI providers in this play-based assessment.

Challenges and Strategies:

The high turnover among EI providers is a barrier to training EI providers in our screening process.

Strategy: We created a training video which is now used in the orientation for all new EI providers.

Addressing Health Disparities in Early Diagnosis and Service Receipt: Implementing Two-Stage Screening in Early intervention Alice S. Carter, Ph.D., Abbey Eisenhower, Ph.D., Frances Martnez-Pedraza, M.A., & Angel Fettig, Ph.D.Introduction=Who are we screening?(Stage 1, n=531)Who are we diagnosing? (Stage 3 n=69)Contd Challenges and StrategiesThrough the ABCD Early Screening Project, we attempt to reduce health disparities in the rates and ages of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis and service receipt.To do so, we are changing the screening practices implemented by federally mandated early intervention (EI) agencies serving children ages zero to three. This research was supported by HRSA-funded grant R40MC26195.Acknowledgements:Multi-Stage Screening & Assessment Protocol Are we reaching racially diverse families?Implementation: Successes and ChallengesRacial or Ethnic Minority: 71%EI providers vary in their comfort around discussing autism with their client families.

Strategies:A website was created with information about ASD and the screening process,Collaboratively developed a script for EI providers to broach the subject of autism with families, Hold regular trouble-shooting meetings with providers

Training Video:Website for EI Providers:A Recent ABCD Project Newsletter:

Gender: 64% boys (340 out of 531) Ages: 16 - 33 mo. (Mean = 24 months)Racial or Ethnic Minority: 62%Race: Black or African-American: 34% Asian: 7% White: 54% Bi/Multiracial: 4% Unknown/Not reported: 1%Ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino/a: 35%Language: 35% of children had a primary language other than English (18% Spanish, 17% other).

Gender: 87% boys (60 out of 69) Ages: 19 - 36 mo. (Mean = 27.4 mo.s, SD = 5.2)Language: 42% had a primary language other than English (24% Spanish, 18% other)Family Income: 58% of families earned < $45,000K (~the poverty level for a family of four)Parent Education: 48% have a high school education or less