Increasing resources for autism evaluation and support for under‐resourced schools through a state‐wide school telehealth initiative.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disability affecting 1 in 44 children nationally. Timely referral to intervention and support services for ASD has consistently demonstrated significant long‐term positive effects on symptoms and subsequent skills and family outcomes. This paper highlights a novel and innovative approach of short‐term consultations for best practices to ultimately increase access to timely ASD evaluations and support through a state‐wide school telehealth initiative. The goal of the initiative was to facilitate rapid access to ASD evaluation and support (within 2 weeks of referral in school‐age youth) among under‐resourced school systems in Central Texas. First, this paper provides background relative to current disparities that many children face when attempting to obtain ASD evaluations and support. Second, a statewide legislative response is described that created a mental health consortium targeting increased access to broad‐based mental health services and supports, particularly in underserved areas. Next, the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) program is outlined with a particular focus on day‐to‐day operationality and concentrated efforts to increase mental health literacy among school teams relative to ASD symptoms and co‐occurring behavioral health concerns. Year 1 utilization data metrics (September 2020–May 2021) and representative case examples are presented. Finally, early "lessons learned" and future directions are discussed. Highlights: In 2020, the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) program was implemented state‐wide as a partnership between local school districts, community mental health agencies, and developmental specialists at the 12 academic medical centers across Texas to increase access to services for youth with behavioral or developmental referral concerns.The model aims to provides timely access (within 1 week) to a telehealth visit with a developmental specialist for short‐term evaluation and support as well as pairing families with a system navigator to facilitate referral follow‐through to community resources.The TCHATT model offers school districts a potentially viable option for increasing access to timely autism evaluation and supports via telehealth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]