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Indiana Department of Education

Bridging Across Systems

HANDS in Autism® has partnered with various state systems and organizations, including the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), since 2006. These collaborations focus on addressing gaps and enhancing care processes through greater integration and coordination. HANDS has raised awareness, shared resources, and provided training across Indiana and beyond, especially in reducing intense behaviors and improving functional skills for better integration into families, schools, and communities.

"I enjoyed time to talk about a big-picture problem that we want to try to address. I like the structure in thinking through the process with the various handouts."

-Building Administrator, Suspension Expulsion Coalition Member

"I enjoyed the clarity having shared core values to begin the brainstorming process."

-District Director, Suspension Expulsion Coalition Member

Behavioral Health Suspension Expulsion Coalition

The Behavioral Health: Suspension & Expulsion Coalition, facilitated by HANDS in Autism® thru Indiana Dept of Education (IDOE) funding, is comprised of diverse districts that are representative of urban, suburban and rural demographics from north to south across the state. Coalition efforts center around a collaborative, community-informed approach to address behavioral health challenges in schools across Indiana with individually selected target areas (e.g., chronic absenteeism, parent engagement, low SES populations) per district. Targets were purposefully selected as proximal outcomes that distally impact suspension and expulsion.

Key Coalition Components

Purpose

The coalition aims to develop a trajectory for behavioral health goals, including data collection, resource sharing, and decision-making pathways to reduce suspensions and expulsions.

Approach

Using frameworks like Tuckman's stages of team development and Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC), the coalition encouraged participants to map resources, align goals, and ensure diverse representation.

Coalition Pilot (from kickoff through Spring 2025)

After an in-person January kickoff meeting, participants are engaging in monthly virtual meetings (February-May 2025) to implement and refine strategies, gather field data, and enhance resource accessibility via an online Coalition Portal.

The Suspension Expulsion Coalition seeks to create a sustainable infrastructure for addressing behavioral health by bridging research, policy, and practice gaps while fostering collaboration among stakeholders.

Foundational pilot districts are laying the groundwork for further coalition work among interested districts.

Coalition Portal Join the Coalition

Education Scholarship Account (ESA) at HANDS in Autism®

The Education Scholarship Account (ESA) provides tailored financial support to Indiana families, helping them meet the unique educational needs of their children, especially those with diverse learning requirements or disabilities. Through this program, eligible families can access a wide range of educational services and resources designed to support personal development, community engagement, education and training, independent living and overall career readiness.

For a comprehensive guide on the benefits, application procedures, and detailed services available through ESA, visit our ESA information page. You will also find ways to engage with HANDS through ESA funding at this page!

Indiana Learning Lab

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) has joined forces with local groups to expand the Indiana Learning Lab, providing educators and families with instructional resources, professional development opportunities, and tools to support implementation of best practices.

Originally established during the COVID-19 pandemic as the Indiana eLearning Lab, this platform offers live workshops, coaching, and ready-to-use teaching materials. Expanded online communities now support areas like literacy, digital instruction, and STEM. This initiative reflects a shared commitment to empowering teachers and families working to improve outcomes for students across Indiana.

Check out the Indiana Learning Lab and resources from HANDS in Autism® and Department of Psychiatry partners!

Indiana Department of Education

Bridging Across Systems

Education Scholarship Account (ESA) at HANDS in Autism®

Indiana Learning Lab

HANDS in Autism® resources and social media channels