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Category: Autism

Bridging the Autism Care Gap: What to Expect from REACH’s New Autism Essentials Course
Bridging the Autism Care Gap: What to Expect from REACH’s New Autism Essentials Course

June 26, 2026

Current CDC data shows that roughly one in 31 children has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Yet, there are fewer than 700 Developmental-Behavioral Pediatricians (DBPs) nationwide. Elizabeth W. Barnhardt, DO, MA(Ed), a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University, and Attending Physician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, underscores the gravity of this gap:

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Tips for Managing Mental Health Disorders in Children with Autism
Tips for Managing Mental Health Disorders in Children with Autism

April 24, 2025

“It used to be that when a diagnosis of autism was given, no other mental health comorbidities could be recognized,” explains Ruth E.K. Stein, MD, a REACH faculty member and Professor of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. “That changed in 2013 with the release of the DSM-5. For

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Is it autism, or something else?
Is it autism, or something else?

August 23, 2024

With Autism Spectrum Disorder, early screening and intervention are essential—with diagnosis ideally made in early childhood. But as shared in our recent article about how autism may present at different ages, less severe cases may not be detected until children are school-aged or adolescents, especially among girls.  We asked REACH faculty member Ron Marino, DO/MPH,

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How Autism May Present at Different Ages
How Autism May Present at Different Ages

April 26, 2024

“No two kids with autism spectrum disorder are identical. The presentation often depends on the degree of severity and the age of the child,” explains Ruth E.K. Stein, MD, a Professor of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore.  Now recognized as a spectrum disorder, autism may be diagnosed

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How to help families awaiting an autism diagnosis
How to help families awaiting an autism diagnosis

November 20, 2023

“Wait times to get a formal autism diagnosis from a qualified program range from six months to two years. It’s very frustrating for parents and their children who need services,” explains Dr. Mark Wolraich, MD, a REACH faculty member and retired professor of pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. 

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July 16, 2026

Ready to join the 9,500+ clinicians who've completed REACH training? The Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care (PPP) program equips pediatric primary care clinicians with practical, evidence-based skills to assess, diagnose, manage, and treat common…

July 13, 2026

We're proud to share that REACH CEO Lisa Hunter Romanelli, Ph.D., recently joined the We Are For Good podcast as part of their Stories That Fill the Hope Gap series. In the episode titled "Lead With…

July 9, 2026

Two leading mental health researchers recently highlighted REACH's work in an editorial published in Psychiatric Services (American Psychiatric Association), underscoring the growing recognition of our approach to expanding access to pediatric mental health care. Reflecting on…

July 7, 2026

July is BIPOC Mental Health Month, an opportunity to recognize the unique mental health challenges that many Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities face. BIPOC youth and adults have a right to culturally responsive, evidence-based…

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