Historical initiatives:
Overall, HANDS in Autism® has had long-standing collaborative relationships with a number of state systems and organizations inclusive of FSSA, DDRS, BDDS, DMHA, DCS as well as the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). Across agencies, the long-term partnerships demonstrate a close tie and integration across various initiatives with gaps and need for more intensive, comprehensive, systematic and coordinated care processes.
Ultimately, HANDS in Autism® has served in the capacity of a service provider to the IDOE since 2006. Through this process of involvement and integration, HANDS has facilitated awareness, dissemination of information and resources across learning styles and formats, and community wide training across the state and beyond particularly in the areas of reduction of intense behaviors and increases in functional and adaptive skills that allow for improved milieu, family and community integration. In addition, a focus on training to implementation (i.e. ability to apply the skills with fidelity in a natural setting) has promoted the development of demonstration sites and training hubs statewide. Such demonstration sites or training hubs provide direct representation of the feasibility and process of changing systems, implementing global changes and fostering local capacity and sustainable change in general best practice intervention and support.