MINNESOTA Great Lakes LEND Collaboration Focus on Autism October 4, 2012
2010/11 MN Demographics • Population 5,344,861 (2011) • Generally mirrors the U.S. – Higher percentage of whites (87% MN, 78% US) – Higher percentage of high school graduates – Slightly higher incomes
MN Demographics • Minnesota’s geographical and cultural diversity is a great challenge. – Half of all Minnesotans live in rural areas • shortages of mental health professionals and credentialed providers – In urban areas we have growing populations of East African and Southeast Asian immigrants who are under- represented in the service system • MN is moving forward with an autism waiver which would secure funding for more families, but the provider shortage throughout the state remains problematic.
Relevant Data – The % of students with an educational label of autism is higher in MN (1.4%) than any other state in the nation – Funding for services in MN have been a challenge many years. • no insurance mandate or autism waiver. • Medicaid has paid for medically-necessary autism services (including ABA) without a firm dollar or age- cap • Heavy reliance on PCA services
Individuals Served under Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Category MN Child Count Data (Birth-21 yrs.) 16000 13879 14000 12704 12000 11314 9929 10000 8691 8000 7307 5929 6000 4786 3759 4000 2814 2242 1730 2000 1284 959 726 551 434 331 0 1992 - 2009
MN Definition Educational Criteria for Eligibility (2000) • “…Range of pervasive developmental disorders that adversely affect a pupil’s functioning and result in the need for special education instruction and related services.” • “…Characterized by an uneven developmental profile and a pattern of qualitative impairments in several areas of development: social interaction, communication, or restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, with onset in childhood.”
Autism State Plan Highlights • Two existing state plans are being merged (Act Early team + Legislative Task Force) – Outcomes identified for • early screening and assessment • evidence-based intervention • transition from school to post-secondary education/work • funding/social services across the lifespan
Key Summit Group Partners Autism Society of Minnesota • • Arc Greater Twin Cities Arc Minnesota • • Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare MN Chapter – American Academy of Pediatrics • MN Department of Education • • MN Department of Health Minnesota Department of Human Services • • Minnesota Early Autism Project MN Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities • MN Head Start • • MN House/Senate Autism Task Force Somali American Autism Foundation • • University of Minnesota Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinic
Accomplishments and Successes – Secured AMCHP funding for Learn The Signs Act Early dissemination project – moving us forward on our early screening & intervention goals – Aligning key partners and agencies statewide & holding summit on November 8-9 to learn from SC and WI Act Early teams and formalize our dissemination plan – Act Early Ambassador – Shivani Pandit – State Plan development and integration of Act Early Summit group work with state agency partners added in new Legislative Task Force – Emerging research effort on ASD in MN
Challenges or Struggles – Alignment of the moving parts • service providers, • policy changes and evolution with divisions/departments, • multiple advocacy positions – Plan development – Informal ad hoc summit group initial development now in the hands of formal Legislative Task Force – Resource
Next Steps/Future Plans • Act Early Summit November 8-9 • Complete State Plan • Complete ASD Surveillance project – Surveillance moving forward • Complete ASD residential services study • Form statewide stakeholder advisory council on autism services, report recommendations to Department of Human Services
Resources • Autism Speaks http://www.autismspeaks.org/ • Autism Society of Minnesota http://www.ausm.org/ • MN State Autism Network www.mnlowincidenceprojects.org/asd.html • MN LEND www.lend.umn.edu
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