Wednesday, February 1, 2023 – 13:24 PM | | Author: Karelia Pitts
The Department of Psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has launched a fundraiser to meet Mississippi’s growing need for mental health clinicians trained to diagnose autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
A $5,000 local impact grant from Autism Speaks, plus $1,000 crowdfunded through Eagle Fever.
USM Foundation. These donations will fund the USM Center for Behavioral Health (CBH) for his two-day course on his 70 Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule™-2nd Edition (ADOS®-2) in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. provided.
On Thursday, January 19, 2023, the first day of training began under the guidance of Dr. Rachel Hundley, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Developmental Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Participants include her 60 students and faculty from her USM-accredited graduate programs in counseling, clinical and school psychology, all of whom are clinicians or supervisors at her CBH.
Ten community service providers from Oxford, Mississippi to Mandeville, Louisiana attended because ADOS®-2 training is expensive and difficult for many providers to obtain.
“We are extremely grateful to the Southern Miss community for their generosity and support of Autism Voices. CBH, and assistant professor of psychology, said, “This training is a valuable training resource for our students and faculty. It was not only an opportunity, but an important first step towards making an incredible impact on the lives of children in our community and state.”
According to recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 44 children will be diagnosed with autism by the age of 8, an increase of about 23% over the past few years.
“Early intervention is very important for children diagnosed with autism. However, families across the country are experiencing significant wait times for evaluation,” said Dr. McCraney. “This is partly due to the high demand for services, but partly due to the limited number of providers who can perform these assessments. , it often makes it particularly difficult for families in our state to get a timely diagnosis.”
According to the CDC, only 46% of licensed psychologists in Mississippi provide autism diagnostic services, and psychologists who provide these services to individuals on Medicaid Less than 17%.
Acknowledging the disparities in services faced by individuals and families affected by autism, Dr. Zachary Labrott, licensed psychologist and assistant professor of psychology at USM, said: Provide quality service to these individuals. He is honored to be part of the team that delivers ADOS®-2 training not only to USM, but to his providers and other faculty members in communities across the state. ”
ADOS®-2 is one of the best tools for accurately assessing and diagnosing ASD in children as young as 12 months through adults. Proper use of this tool by clinicians requires specialized training, including semi-structured play or interview-her sessions, determined by the age and communication level of the individual being evaluated. His USM providing this training has directly enhanced the agency’s ability to provide autism assessments to community members.
“I was very relieved to learn that our psychology graduate students participated in this training,” said Dr. LaBrot. “They are the future of the field and are now poised to help people with autism in Mississippi and across the United States, beginning their time as clinicians at CBH and making an immediate impact.” prize.”
The USM Behavioral Health Center is the Gulf South area’s premier behavioral health clinical training facility for future psychologists and counselors. CBH provides evidence-based assessment and treatment services to the community and cutting-edge training experiences for prospective doctoral-level psychologists and master’s-level licensed professional counselors. High-quality, professional services are offered at very low rates, making it easier for individuals who otherwise would not be able to afford them.
“As a graduate student, I was thrilled when I heard that I had the opportunity to be trained to administer ADOS®-2,” said Rebecca Lovelace, USM psychology doctoral student. “Many students don’t get this opportunity until their internship year or later, so gaining this experience early in my journey is invaluable. Not only are they ready to deliver, but they also have important, direct-to-market skills to incorporate into their future careers.”
Participants learned about various ADOS®-2 modules and watched live and recorded demonstrations with children on the autism spectrum. With some additional practice following training, participating clinicians have achieved the goal of her CBH’s Eagle Fever her crowdfunding project to “unleash the potential of children with autism.” increase.
“USM sponsored and organized ADOS-2 training underscores the importance and dedication of training Mississippi providers in evidence-based assessment of autism spectrum disorders. Behavioral Health Services, Mississippi Department of Mental Health.”Families, children, and adults across the state have seen Dr. Handley do a phenomenal job of presenting his wealth of clinical and research knowledge.” You will benefit from any provider who attends this special training with
For more information about USM’s Center for Behavioral Health, visit usm.edu/cbh or find the center by searching @usm_cbh on Facebook and Instagram.
