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Michigan Releases University Autism Program Request for Proposal Opportunity
August 04, 2015
For Immediate Release: August 4, 2015
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) open to Michigan universities for expansion of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) initiatives in the state. The funding will support universities in their work to increase the number of applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapists, diagnostic and treatment centers, employment placement programs, and ASD clinical trainings for primary care providers.
MDHHS plans to award grant funding to a minimum of three universities that demonstrate the ability to make an immediate impact on the 2016 ASD metrics. Successful applicants will have capacity to address one or more of the following priorities: the number of children receiving ASD screenings; diagnostic evaluations and ABA; the number of clinicians with skills to diagnosis and evaluate children with ASD symptoms; and paid employment for individuals with ASD.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports ASD is the fastest growing developmental disability in the country, with approximately one in 68 children diagnosed with ASD nationwide. In Michigan, during the 2014-2015 school year, the Michigan Department of Education reported 17,986 children with ASD in special education – the annual growth rate has been seven to eight percent in the last five years.
Funding will expand the reach of services to additional families from the implementation of both the ASD Insurance Reform and Medicaid service expansion of ABA in Michigan. Proposals may be for new or expanded ASD initiatives or interventions, and may supplement current efforts to meet ASD metrics. Applicants are asked to provide a 25 percent match in support of the proposed initiatives.
Questions from potential applicants are due by Monday, August 10, and may be sent to the email address listed in the RFP. The University Autism Program RFP applications are due by August 28, 2015. For more information about the RFP, visit http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-2946_43858---,00.html.
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