Maternal and Child Health Bureau’s Autism Research Program
Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau autism research
program.
METHODS: We reviewed program reports and internal data from 59 autism research grantees.
The US federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee’s strategic plan questions were
used as a framework to highlight the contributions of the autism research program in
advancing the field.
RESULTS: The autism research program grantees advance research in several ways. Grantees
have strengthened the evidence for autism interventions by conducting 89 studies at 79
distinct research sites. A total of 212 708 participants have enrolled in autism research
program studies and 361 researchers have contributed to furthering autism research. The
program addresses topics that align with the majority of the Interagency Autism Coordinating
Committee’s priority topic areas, including advancements in treatments and interventions,
services and supports, and identifying risk factors. Grantee products include 387 peer-reviewed publications, 19 tools, and 13 practice guidelines for improving care and
intervention practices.
CONCLUSIONS: The autism research program has contributed to medical advances in research,
leveraged innovative training platforms to provide specialized training, and provided access to
health services through research-based screening and diagnostic procedures. Autism research
program studies have contributed to the development of evidence-based practice guidelines,
informed policy guidelines, and quality improvement efforts to bolster advancements in the
field. Although disparities still exist, the Health Resources and Services Administration’s
Maternal and Child Health Bureau can reduce gaps in screening and diagnosis by targeting
interventions to underserved populations including minority and rural communities.
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