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Services Across the Lifespan for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Project ECHO Autism

What is Project ECHO Autism?

Project ECHO Autism is an online learning and guided practice model that is revolutionizing professional health education. The program links clinicians practicing in local communities (“spokes”) with specialist care teams (“hubs”). It is hosted in a teleconsultation format involving a mix of didactic presentations and in-depth case consultations.

Autism affects 1 out of every 36 children in the state of North Carolina. Referrals to specialty clinics often involve travel and long waitlists for families. We want to support local primary care providers and local behavioral health providers to improve their knowledge and confidence in providing evidence-based strategies and treatment to individuals with ASD.

Medical Project ECHO Autism:  North Carolina medical providers including pediatricians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses in primary care practices in North Carolina who have individuals with an autism spectrum disorder of any age on their caseload and who would like to develop their expertise in working with this population. Send an email to teacch_echomd@med.unc.edu indicating your profession, location of practice, and express an interest to sign up!

Mental Health Project ECHO Autism:  North Carolina behavioral health providers including mental health providers, counselors, psychologists, and social workers who have individuals with autism spectrum disorder of any age on their caseload and who would like to develop their expertise with this population. Send an email to teacch_echomh@med.unc.edu indicating your profession, location of practice, and express an interest to sign up!

The cost to participate is Free! Continuing education, including medical and Category A, credits as well as level IV MOC credits will also be provided free of charge. 

  • In a recent survey of families with children with Autism (Spark for Autism, 2020) 63% of families have reported service disruption due to the pandemic with most noticing a negative impact on their children’s behavior.
  • 82% of families reported noticing a negative impact on their child’s mental and emotional health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The use of essential child health services, including developmental screenings for autism at well-child visits and mental health supports, has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels despite the relaxation of “lock-down” guidelines.

To participate you need a device (desktop computer, laptop, phone, tablet) with a microphone, camera, and internet access

Participation includes 90-minute teleconsultation events held 2 times monthly. ECHO sessions are typically held on Mondays around lunchtime.

SEPTEMBER 2023 Project ECHO Autism Mental Health Opportunity: Registration for Mental Health Project ECHO Autism is currently open for mental health providers located in the central and western regions of North Carolina who offer treatment to individuals with an autism spectrum disorder of any age and would like to develop their expertise in working with this population. This series is FULL. We will have another series in the Spring of 2024. If you are interested in the Spring series, please contact TEACCH_ECHOMH@med.unc.edu.

Your commitment to participation would include 90-minute teleconsultation events held two times monthly beginning in SEPTEMBER 2023. Each session will take place on the 2nd and 4th Mondays each month from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM.  Specific dates will be confirmed in your registration email. Didactics will include the following:

1. Learning Style of Autism and Evidence-Based Strategies – 09/11/2023
2. Behavior Consultation from the Autism Perspective – 09/25/2023
3. Evidence-Based Interventions for ASD – 10/09/202s
4. No Session – 10/23/2023
5. ASD and ADHD – Identification and Treatment Tools- 11/13/2023
6. Providing Support to Families- 11/27/2023
7. Social Competency Intervention Strategies – 12/11/2023
8. Working with Families Through the Educational Process – 01/08/2024
9. Emotion Regulation Intervention Strategies – 01/22/2024
10. ASD and Anxiety – Identification and Treatment Tools – 02/12/2023 
11. Topic of Interest Based on Cohort Input (e.g., Depression and Suicidality or Sleep in ASD) – 02/26/2024

Fall 2023 Project ECHO Autism Medical Opportunity: Registration for Medical Project ECHO Autism is currently open for primary care providers in North Carolina who work with individuals with an autism spectrum disorder of any age in their caseload and who would like to develop their expertise in working with this population.

Your commitment to participation would include 90-minute teleconsultation events held two times monthly beginning in September 2023. Each session will take place on the 2nd and 4th Mondays from 12:45 AM – 2:15 PM. Specific dates are as follows:

1. What is Autism and While You Wait – 09/11/2023
2. Autism Screening (MCHAT) and Follow-Up – 09/25/2023
3. Supporting Families – 10/09/2023
4. Evidence-Based Interventions for ASD – 10/23/2023
5.  ADHD and ASD-Differential Dx and Medication Management – 11/13/2023
6.  Anxiety and ASD-Differential DX and Medication Management – 11/27/2023
7. Behavior from ASD Perspective-Irritability, Sensory Concerns, and Transitions – 12//11/2023
8. Navigating a Broken System-Accessing Resources – 01/08/2024
9. Role of Primary Care Providers in Special Education – 01/22/2024
11. Sleep and Autism – 02/12/2024
12. Feeding Issues and Autism – 02/26/2024
13. Transition to Adulthood – 03/11/2024

Register here

  • 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
  • 1.5 CME for Physician Assistants
  • 0.15 Continuing Education Units (CEU)
  • 1.5 Contact hours
  • MOC IV

Please include your profession and the location of the practice.