State Public Health Autism Resource Center 

AMCHP Celebrates Autism Awareness Month! 
Make sure to check out our national calendar and stay tuned for more updates throughout the month here.

SPHARC is a comprehensive web-based resource center intended to provide ongoing technical assistance and facilitate cross-state learning to increase the capacity of states, particularly Title V programs, in developing and implementing systems of care for children and youth with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities (ASD/DD) through resource development, technical assistance and peer learning. SPHARC is designed to establish an ongoing peer-to-peer network, and exchange of resources and information.

Click on the state name below to access their PDF SPHARC profile in a new window:

Announcements

AMCHP Responds to CDC Report on Increase in Autism Prevalence

According to the new report from the CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, the prevalence of ASD in children is 1 in 68, or 14.7 per 1,000 eight year olds. This represents an approximate 30% increase between 2008 and 2010. While the cause of the increase is unknown, it is likely that better awareness, screening and diagnosis efforts play a significant role. AMCHP commends the efforts by CDC, as well as HRSA, to continuing to improve the information available on children and youth with ASD. To read AMCHP's full response, click here for the press release.

Welcome New Grantees!

We would like to welcome continuing grantees to a new project year and extend a welcome to new State Autism Planning and Implementation Grantees:

Planning Grants:

• Arkansas – University of Arkansas System
• Massachusetts - University of Massachusetts
• New Hampshire - NH Department of Health and Human Services
• Texas – University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Implementation Grants:

• Maryland – Parent’s Place of Maryland
• North Carolina – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Oregon – Oregon Health & Science University
• Virginia – Virginia Commonwealth University