# Autism Access Link for Early Referral and Treatment

> **NIH NIH R34** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $274,735

## Abstract

ABSTRACT:
Though significant research effort has focused on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screening, less attention has
been devoted to optimizing follow-up of children who are subsequently identified as at-risk. Despite increases
in ASD screening rates, many children with ASD wait years between when autism is suspected in the primary
care setting and when definitive diagnosis and treatment begin. Delayed and missed diagnoses are particularly
problematic for low-income and racial/ethnic minority children in the US, who experience higher rates of these
adverse outcomes. In this project, we propose to pilot test Autism Access Link to Early Referral and Treatment
(Autism ALERT), a statewide monitoring and case management program to accelerate access to ASD diagnosis
and treatment among children with suspected ASD the primary care setting. The system will reduce the time
between identification of suspected ASD in the primary care setting and establishment of ASD diagnosis and
treatment services, by reducing family barriers to care, decreasing PCP burdens, and simplifying referral
processes. The program will be available to any Oregon child age 12-54 months, regardless of health system or
payor type. Autism ALERT will become part of the Help Me Grow national network, which gives it potential for
statewide and national spread. In this proposed research, we will pilot test Autism ALERT by comparing it to
an existing ASD screening intervention in 6 Oregon primary care practices. Primary goals of this pilot project
are to assess feasibility and acceptability of Autism ALERT for primary care providers and families, to test the
mechanism of action of Autism ALERT, to pilot test efficacy in reducing time to autism diagnosis and
treatment, and to test fidelity of protocol implementation. If successful, this project will be expanded into an
implementation/effectiveness R01 in which the program will be tested throughout the state of Oregon. In the
long term, this research will result in a sustainable, evidence-based statewide and ultimately national
monitoring system children with suspected ASD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9986032
- **Project number:** 5R34MH120184-02
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Katharine Elizabeth Zuckerman
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $274,735
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9986032

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9986032, Autism Access Link for Early Referral and Treatment (5R34MH120184-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9986032. Licensed CC0.

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