History of the State Team

The Act Early State Team was created in 2007 as an activity under the federal Combating Autism Act – now reauthorized as the Autism CARES Act. A major activity of the State Team has been to develop and update the Act Early State Plan. The State Plan was first developed by a group of key stakeholders across several sectors in 2007. An expanded and more diverse Act Early State Team was convened over the years, and an updated State Plan was released in 2011 and again in 2015. The Act Early State Plan identifies five goals that will help Wisconsin make progress in identifying and supporting children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities (ASD/DD):

The Act Early State Team was created in 2007 as an activity under the federal Combating Autism Act – now reauthorized as the Autism CARES Act. A major activity of the State Team has been to develop and update the Act Early State Plan. The State Plan was first developed by a group of key stakeholders across several sectors in 2007. An expanded and more diverse Act Early State Team was convened over the years, and an updated State Plan was released in 2011 and again in 2015. The Act Early State Plan identifies five goals that will help Wisconsin make progress in identifying and supporting children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities (ASD/DD):

  • Goal 1 – Family Engagement: Families who have children with ASD/DD have access to clear and useful information, accessible community supports, and coordinated systems of care that are family-centered.
  • Goal 2 – System of Early Identification and Referral: All children receive developmental screening and ongoing developmental monitoring, and are referred to services when a concern is identified, within a coordinated care including a Medical Home.
  • Goal 3 – Assessment, Evaluation, and Diagnosis: All children receive an evaluation within three months after a concern is identified through screening or developmental monitoring.
  • Goal 4 – Intervention and Coordinated Community Supports: All children who have been identified and/or diagnosed with ASD/DD receive timely and effective individualized interventions within a system of coordinated community-based care.
  • Goal 5 – Statewide Coordination: Work on the plan will be carried out to ensure statewide coordination related to communication plans, knowledgeable referrals, data collection/evaluation, and family engagement.

image link to Act Early State Plan

photo of young child playing with legos