CNNH Designated a NJ Autism Center to Address Autism Crisis in the State

Wait Time Drops for Early Identification Screenings

VOORHEES, NJ – The Center for Neurological and Neurodevelopmental Health (CNNH) in Voorhees, NJ, recently received a two-year, $1 million Clinical Enhancement Grant from the New Jersey Governor’s Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Autism. This grant will address the autism epidemic in the state and create an unprecedented statewide network of clinical programs dedicated to the assessment and treatment of children with autism. CNNH and other grant recipients will be advising the Council for creating statewide screening standards for the early identification of autism and novel clinical delivery systems that will meet the overwhelming demand for services. CNNH is the sole recipient in the seven-county southern New Jersey region and one of only six grant awardees in the state.

“We are honored and excited by the opportunity to enhance our services to the autism community,” says Mark Mintz, M.D., pediatric neurologist and President and CEO of CNNH. “Unfortunately, New Jersey has the highest prevalence of autism in the U.S. This grant will allow us to assist families, health care providers and school districts in understanding the presentation, diagnosis and clinical management of Autism Spectrum Disorders and provide empirical data concerning the response to therapeutic interventions. We will be incorporating technological innovation and advanced evaluation and treatment interventions to accomplish these goals.”

CNNH will use the grant to create technological initiatives using the Internet for remote behavior capture at home and in the classroom; gather data to better understand the extent and severity of the present epidemic; increase our capacity to assess and identify infants and children with autism through regionalization projects; create new diagnostic, clinical planning and progress tracking instruments; expand outreach services for home, community and patient education resources; implement school transitioning strategies for adolescents to adult; and construct multidisciplinary and innovative assessment and management programs for children with autism.

The $1 million grant is administered and funded by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Special Child Health and Early Intervention Services.

CNNH offers comprehensive evaluation, diagnostic testing, and treatment for infants to young adults with neurological, neurobehavioral, neuropsychological, and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism. The Center brings together national and local experts to provide accurate and definitive diagnoses and comprehensive treatment intervention using the most advanced diagnostic tools and technology. For more information about CNNH, please call Phyllis Rothman at 856.346.0005 x 121 or visit www.thecnnh.org.