IMPACC Project (HRSA Grant)
In September 2008, The Autism Program of Illinois received a three-year federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), which TAP entitled Project IMPACC (Improving Access to Community Care). Six states were originally awarded this grant, and as of September 2010, nine new states have joined this federal effort. At the national level, six goals were established that each state addressed based on that state’s current system and level of care.
Project Goals
- Family & professional partnership at all levels of decision-making: engage families that are already utilizing services through The Autism Program Network and create the Family Advisor Program. The team provides training opportunities for the Family Advisors to gain new tools to navigate various medical issues and advocacy in regards to their child’s care. The team has provided an initial training and subsequent quarterly meetings on medical issues to more than 60 families in Illinois.
- Early and continuous screening, evaluation, diagnosis and intervention: strive to engage 120 practices across Illinois. The engagement process consists of the assigned Health Services Facilitator calling or visiting healthcare practices to inform them of the TAP Network and the grant initiative; setting up a training date for the practice; and informing the local TAP Center of the training by extending an invitation to speak at the training in order to facilitate bidirectional support between providers.
- Access to comprehensive healthcare and related services through the medical home: recruit six medical practices to participate in a year long Medical Home quality improvement process.
- Adequate public and/or private financing of needed services: pilot new billing rates and a sliding fee scale to increase sustainability and access to appropriate healthcare for families.
- Organization of community services so that families can use them easily: bridge autism community geographical partners to create a mutually agreed upon referral system to better utilize available resources.
- Successful transition to all aspects of adult healthcare, work and independence: collaborate on several initiatives addressing adult issues including transitioning out of high school, entering the workforce and becoming a self advocate for personal healthcare. One such initiative, Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism (AFAA), created a policy agenda that was presented to Congress July 2010.