The Commission for Children with Special Health Care Needs (CCSHCN) has announced a new Office of Autism has been established at the agency.

The Office of Autism will create a centralized location to coordinate statewide and regional efforts to enhance the quality of life and independence to individuals with an autism spectrum disorder and to support their families and caregivers.

The office will improve coordination of autism resources within the system of care supporting both children and adults with autism and help make those resources available to families and self-advocates.  The office will provide administrative support to the Advisory Council on Autism Spectrum Disorders to unify and promote initiatives aimed at improving Kentucky’s system of care.

The CCSHCN has a long history of serving as a coordinator of services in the sometimes fragmented health care system to help ease the burden of chronic conditions for families and individuals. CCSHCN’s new autism office will work to coordinate throughout the cabinet with others that currently provide services and supports to families and individuals coping with behavioral manifestations of autism spectrum disorders. These agencies include the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities; Department for Medicaid Services; Department for Community Based Services; Department of Public Health; and Family Resource and Youth Service Centers. The CCSHN will also coordinate with other state agencies, such as Kentucky Department for Education.

Amy Cooper-Puckett has been selected as the director for the new office.

“Kentucky has an opportunity to integrate physical and behavioral health services for persons on the Autism Spectrum and it is my privilege to participate in this initiative as the Director for the Office of Autism,” she said.

For more information about the Office of Autism, please contact Amy Cooper-Puckett, LCSW, at the Commission for Children with Special Health Care Needs, 333 Waller Ave., Suite 300, Lexington KY 40504, 859-252-3170, ext. 3003.