We work to increase awareness of monitoring developmental milestones. Developmental monitoring and screening identifies early signs of developmental disabilities and delays that may be related to factors like genetics or exposures like Zika, alcohol, or opioids.
Act Early Network
Act Early Network: The Act Early Network is a national forum that supports state and territorial efforts to improve early identification of autism and other developmental disabilities. We publish a quarterly newsletter, host a quarterly webinar series, and manage a national listserv of over one thousand early childhood professionals sharing resources and events.
Act Early/COVID-19 Response Teams
The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) has expanded its National Center on Disability in Public Health efforts with an investment of over $8M in the Act Early Network through an Act Early Network-wide Response to COVID-19 made possible through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
41 State and Territorial Act Early/COVID-19 Response Teams have been awarded a two-year grant opportunity for Support for Early Childhood State Systems through the Act Early Network. Response Teams are focused on support for early childhood state systems through the Act Early Network to provide support to families with young children across the country by bolstering collaboration among early childhood programs and systems to improve the four steps of early identification of developmental delays and disabilities, including autism, and to improve resiliency skills and behaviors among families especially those within communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and/or COVID-19 mitigation strategies.
Act Early Ambassadors Program
Act Early Ambassadors Program: Act Early Ambassadors expand the reach of the “Learn the Signs. Act Early .” program and support their respective state’s work toward improving early identification of developmental delays and disabilities, including autism. Learn more about the Act Early Ambassadors Program.
Early Childhood Special Interest Group
Early Childhood Special Interest Group: The Early Childhood Special Interest Group at AUCD provides information to AUCD Network members on critical issues related to early childhood through a national listserv and webinar series. Subscribe to the listserv to stay up-to-date!
Autism Special Interest Group
Autism Special Interest Group: The Autism Special Interest Group at AUCD provides information to AUCD Network members on critical issues related to autism. Subscribe to the listserv to stay up-to-date!
Community of Practice on Parenting, Behavioral Concerns & Strategy: Seeking Innovations Together
Three states (Alaska, Connecticut, and Kentucky) collaborated with AUCD and CDC during a 12-month, national Community of Practice (CoP) to develop and implement innovative strategies to connect the current evidence base across systems that serve young children and parents. These states were selected through a competitive application process and received a stipend through the AUCD-CDC cooperative agreement. Taking place from November 2019 to November 2020, this CoP focused on integrating best practices for utilizing evidence-based positive parenting and child development resources. A Playbook of Practical Steps to Support Parenting, Behavioral Concerns & Strategy Implementation was developed to offer strategic advice and lessons learned from collaborative efforts of the AUCD Network and partners to implement efforts to support parenting and behavioral concerns within systems that serve young children and their families. Use this “Playbook” of practical steps and strategies to support your programmatic efforts.