Autism Services

Intensive Home-Based Services (IHBS), as applicable to children with youth with ASD or ASD with co-occurring I/DD, means a collection of discrete clinical interventions including Intensive Care Coordination, Therapeutic Mentoring, Behavioral Support, In-Home Therapy, Family Support and Peer Support that are provided to a child or youth in any setting where he or she may reside or in other community settings. The six IHBS are described below:

Intensive Care Coordination:
Identification, coordination, and monitoring of an array of supports through needs assessment, case planning, service arrangement, social support, re-assessment, and follow-up/ monitoring by a single case manager.

Therapeutic Mentoring:
Support, coaching, and training for an individual in age-appropriate behaviors, interpersonal communication, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and relating appropriately to peers and adults.

Behavioral Support:
Development and monitoring of a behavior support plan designed to diminish, extinguish, or improve specific behaviors. The behavior therapist coordinates and trains others to implement the plan as well as provide crisis management.

In-Home Therapy:
Treatment of the individual’s behavioral and mental health needs, includes effective support to enhance the family’s ability to improve the individual’s functioning in the home and community.

Psychoeducational Services:
Training to help individuals and families understand the nature of diagnosis and effective strategies to maintain meaningful engagement in the community.

Peer Support:
Promotion of socialization, self-advocacy, development of natural supports, and maintenance of community living skills. Peer specialists encourage participation in service planning, engaging supports, improving self-management, decision making, and navigating child-serving agencies.

The Alabama Department of Mental Health is the designated, lead state agency for the Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council (AIACC), created by the Alabama Autism Support Act of 2009 (Act #2009-295).  The Regional Autism Network (RAN) is supported by the AIACC and consists of five universities which serve as hubs for professional training programs, technical assistance and consultation services, direct assistance, and public education programs. The RAN is staffed by experts in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorder.