R40 MCH Autism Intervention Research

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MCH Autism Intervention Research The current competition for R40 MCH Autism Intervention Research supports research on evidence-based practices for interventions to improve the health and well-being of children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities.  Consistent with HRSA’s mission as the access agency to provide services to underserved populations, applicants are encouraged to propose research studies that address the unique and very important needs of underserved populations, including low-income, racial/ethnic minorities, immigrants, and individuals who are not already readily included in current research on children and adolescents with ASD and other developmental disabilities.  Also encouraged are proposals that address the unique barriers to identification, diagnosis, and receipt of interventions for underserved populations, including issues pertaining to insurance coverage and reimbursement for evidence-based interventions for children and adolescents with ASD and other developmental disabilities.  Examples of research topics of interest to MCHB include but are not limited to the following: Health care access and continuity of care, including transition into adulthood (e.g., employment and health care); Family engagement and family partnerships; Family well-being, coping, resilience, and social networks; Variations in access to services affecting family functioning in diverse populations; Service systems and infrastructure including: characterizing the current ASD diagnostic and service utilization patterns in community settings, examining the relationship between diagnosis and services availability for ASD, and evaluating services and intervention outcomes; Increasing identification of ASD including Aspergers in diverse populations, including ethnic minorities and girls; Safety issues including wandering from residential and educational settings. MCH Autism Intervention Secondary Data Analysis Studies (SDAS) Program The current competition for R40 MCH Autism Intervention Secondary Data Analysis Studies supports research on evidence-based practices for interventions to improve the health and well-being of children and adolescents with ASD and other developmental disabilities, exclusively utilizing the analysis of existing secondary data.  Consistent with HRSA’s mission as the access agency to provide services to underserved populations, applicants are encouraged to propose secondary data analysis studies that address the unique and very important needs of underserved populations, including low-income, racial/ethnic minorities, immigrants, and individuals not already included in current research on children and adolescents with ASD and other developmental disabilities.  Proposals that address the unique barriers to identification and diagnosis and receipt of interventions for underserved populations and issues pertaining to the financing/reimbursement of services for children and adolescents with ASD and other developmental disabilities are also encouraged.  Studies in the areas of autism prevalence, factors associated with prevalence, or autism and medical home will not be considered for funding under this competition. Innovative use of secondary datasets from a variety of sources is encouraged when applying for the SDAS competition. The Maternal and Child Health Bureau’s intent is to ensure that project interventions are responsive to the cultural and linguistic needs of special populations, that services are family-centered and accessible to consumers, and that the broadest possible representation of culturally distinct and historically underrepresented groups is supported through programs and projects sponsored by the MCHB. Objectives of the MCH Autism Intervention Research and MCH Autism Intervention SDAS Programs: Funding associated with these awards is intended to support the conduct of research studies and secondary data analyses that will result in the following: Advancement of the current knowledge pool leading to improvements in interventions that address the health and well-being of children and adolescents with ASD and other developmental disabilities and their families; and Information dissemination to health professionals and the public, especially families impacted by ASD and other developmental disabilities.

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