The Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support (CARES) Act of 2019 reauthorizes and expands the provisions first introduced in the Combating Autism Act of 2006. The purpose of the law is to provide a coordinated federal response to the rising number of individuals diagnosed with autism (AS) and other developmental disabilities (DD) and to increase investments to help address the growing needs of these individuals and their families across the lifespan. The law is the primary source of federal funding for autism research, services, training, and monitoring.
In carrying out the provisions of the Autism CARES Act of 2019, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) supports training programs, research, and state systems grants to:
As the Autism CARES Act National Interdisciplinary Training Resource Center, ITAC provides technical assistance (TA) and develops training resources for HRSA-funded Autism CARES training programs, including interdisciplinary LEND and DBP programs. To learn more about TA services, click here.
As part of our technical assistance, ITAC hosts an annual Autism CARES meeting. The meeting is an opportunity for HRSA-funded CARES grantees (representing research, training, and state systems) to share information about activities within their respective networks, discuss emerging trends, and facilitate meaningful collaboration.
The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC): a Federal advisory committee that coordinates Federal efforts and provides advice to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on issues related to autism.
The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB): Through the Autism CARES Act of 2019, MCHB invests in training, research, and in-state-level MCH agencies to improve access to quality services for children and youth with autism and developmental disabilities.