Family Support / Recommendations / Current Activities in GA

Recommendation 1:

Establish a statewide Autism Resource Center with telephone and web access that can serve as a first-point of contact and ongoing resource for families and providers.

  • Objective 1a: Obtain resources to populate a family-centered information clearinghouse that will facilitate families’ navigation of systems of care and will allow providers to refer families to more
    specific resources when needed.

Recommendation 2:

Collaborate with advocacy and support organizations to establish and deliver training on culturally competent family support throughout the state that may include a focus on parent advocacy, peer support for parents, grandparents, and siblings, and accessing community resources.

  • Objective 2a: Collaborate with Autism Society of America, Autism Speaks, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), Parent to Parent of Georgia, and Spectrum Autism Support to expand current trainings and incorporate cultural competence into existing programs.

Recommendation 3:

Collaborate with state, local, and community agencies, including places of worship and recreation centers, to establish affordable and accessible respite programs with the community.

  • Objective 3a: Develop, implement, and evaluate a series of trainings for respite providers on supportive and culturally competent methods of serving children with autism and their families. These trainings will be accessible to diverse geographic areas throughout Georgia, as well as within the metro area.

Recommendation 4:

Establish clear and consistent guidelines across the state on respite.

  • Objective 4a: Develop statewide policies on respite care, including who can access it, who
    provides it (with consideration of training requirements), and what it costs, including the availability of a sliding scale.

Recommendation 5:

Establish a network of regional centers that will assist families and providers in accessing local community resources, coordinating existing supports across agencies, and identifying strategies to address unmet needs.

Last Updated 03/07/14