Health

Act Early

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) has developed a public awareness campaign called "Learn the Signs. Act Early." The purpose of this campaign is to educate people about childhood development, including early warning signs of autism and other developmental disorders, as well as to encourage developmental screenings and intervention. 

Materials, all of which are free and are written in both English and Spanish, have been specifically designed for families, healthcare providers, and early childhood educators. The CDC’s website has information about the "Learn the Signs. Act Early" campaign, including how to order the materials.

In addition to the campaign, Act Early Summits have been organized around the country. These Summits have provided participants from different states the opportunity to share with one another information about the early identification, assessment, and provision of health and education related services for young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and related developmental disabilities.

The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) has helped organize the Summits, and as New Jersey’s University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), The Boggs Center was asked to serve as the coordinator for New Jersey’s Act Early team.  New Jersey’s team includes representatives from early intervention, preschool special education, child care, Head Start, pediatrics, child welfare, autism, family advocacy, and the state legislature.

In March 2009, members of the team participated in an Act Early Summit at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, along with teams from New York, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.  During the Summit, each team worked to develop plans that would help enhance their state’s system for identifying and serving young children with ASD and related developmental disabilities. Since the Summit, New Jersey’s team has focused its efforts on disseminating as widely as possible Act Early materials and information to families, healthcare providers, and early childhood educators throughout the state.

For more information about New Jersey’s Act Early team, please contact Kathy Roberson or 732-235-9317 at The Boggs Center.

Project Director: Deborah M. Spitalnik, PhD
Project Coordinator: Kathy Roberson, MSW