P3B235: Support Groups, Education Sessions, and Community Awareness Events for Parents of Children with Autism Initiated by a Community Clinic Along the United States-mexico Border

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder is a range of developmental disorders characterized by speech difficulties, social challenges, and repetitive characteristic behaviors. An estimated 1 in 44 children in the United States have autism. Chiricahua Community Health Centers Inc., a federally qualified health center along the United States-Mexico border in Southeast Arizona, has seen 71 children with autism in the last year in their Douglas clinic alone. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is the most effective treatment for children with autism yet there are no ABA services in Douglas and very few in the county. This leaves parents with limited resources and support to help with the complex behaviors of their child. A 2022 family needs assessment conducted by Chiricahua highlighted that only 5% of children receive ABA services, 80% feel like they have ‘little to no access to resources to support your child and family’, and nearly 100% state that services are too far from home or too expensive. To connect parents with each other and support group education efforts in an underserved area, Chiricahua started support groups, education sessions, and community events for parents of children with autism in 2022 in Douglas.

Project Description: Given the lack of resources for children with autism, a new position titled “Community Engagement Coordinator” was created in late 2021 for a community member to be responsible for listening, empowering, and organizing families who have a child with autism. This coordinator was hired in March 2022 and is supervised by a pediatrician to accomplish three main tasks:
1) Connect parents who have children with autism together into support groups
2) Establish education sessions for parents of children with autism to learn and discuss key problem areas
3) Raise awareness in the community about autism

Discussion: In response, since August 2022, Chiricahua runs support groups for parents of children with autism in English and Spanish. Nearly thirty families gather every month to share stories, triumphs, challenges, heartbreaks, and strategies. Free childcare is provided through partnership with a local childcare agency initiated so parents can attend without distractions.

Monthly “Ask the Expert” education sessions since October 2022 have brought in speakers from both sides of the border to discuss topics prioritized by parents like behavior and speech.

Community events raise the visibility of autism and meet family needs, including an autism-specific vaccine event. 2022 saw inaugural family autism events for Halloween and Christmas. In April 2023, Chiricahua is partnering with the School District and City of Douglas to run our first ever Autism Awareness Walk.

Conclusion: Community clinics can meet the needs of parents of children with autism in low-resource areas through innovative means, best supported by a community coordinator dedicated to family engagement and support.