Partnership for the Integrated Care of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Penn Nursing's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Surveillance Program partners with the oldest specialized autism treatment center in the country to improve care for children and families

A formal partnership between Penn Nursing and the Center for Autism will combine the clinical strengths of one of the country's top diagnostic and ASD treatment providers with a unique nursing perspective to improve comprehensive care for the ASD community. The Center for Autism is a private, non-profit organization located in Philadelphia that treats individuals with ASD.

As the first and only such program in the country, the Partnership for the Integration of Care of Autism Spectrum Disorders will address the immediate need for a nursing workforce that understands the complexities of the developmental disorder through continuing education courses for practicing pediatric and mental health nurses, providing them with the required education and training needed to deliver screening and selected treatment services.   

Funded by the Philadelphia Health Care Trust, the Penn Nursing-Center for Autism partnership will pilot two research projects. The first will examine how nurses can help adolescents with ASD build their social skills and transition into the community through employment, membership in civic and social groups, and volunteer opportunities. The second pilot research project will evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes of the continuing education program.

Possible future research priorities include: identifying the methods and approaches that can be used to prevent the challenges and disabilities of ASD; enhancing methods for detecting ASD earlier in life and across diverse populations for early interventions; and developing more research on ASD in older people, especially improving quality of life in adolescents and older adults.