The Transition for Youth with Autism and/or Epilepsy Demonstration Projects grant is offered through the Health Resources & Services Administration Maternal & Child Health Bureau. It will provide funding to develop and implement systems of support for children with autism and/or epilepsy who require a higher level of assistance to transition into adulthood. The acronym YAES will be used to refer to these individuals.
This program expects to award four autism and seven epilepsy grants of up to $450,000 each. There is no cost share requirement. Applications are due through Grants.gov by March 11, 2024.
Eligibility
Applicant
This grant is open to organizations in the United States and its territories that are:
- Public or private
- Community-based
- Tribal (governments, organizations)
Target Population
Projects under this funding opportunity should be designed for individuals aged 13-26 who:
- Have co-occurring conditions
- Have intellectual disabilities
- Experience challenges in social cognition, communication, interpersonal skills, and/or behaviors
- Require a higher level of family support and coordination.
Program Objectives
- By August 2029, increase by 50% from baseline the percentage of all YAES in the project area that successfully transition to adult serving systems.
- By August 2029, adopt a framework for ongoing partnership, collaboration, and consultation between agencies to support YAES and their families/caregivers in successfully transitioning from child to adult serving systems.
- By August 2029, increase by 75% from baseline the percentage of all families/caregivers of YAES in the project area that report improved self efficacy with the transition process.
Program Phases
Funded projects will take place in two phases over five years.
Phase I: Planning
The first year of grant funded work will be spent collecting data and building partnerships. This should include:
- Determining the population and baseline number of YAES in the project or catchment area
- Conducting an analysis of existing services and supports in the catchment area
- Identifying barriers to and opportunities for success in the transition process
- Meeting with service providers and other stakeholders in the transition process
- Developing data collection and reporting methods for evaluating the success of the project
Phase II: Implementation
Years 2-5 of the project will be spent building the system of support. Activities should include:
- Adopting and implementing a framework of systems of support, partnerships, and consultation with service providers
- Collecting and reporting data to evaluate project success
- Devloping a sustainability plan, which should be completed by August 31, 2028
- Disseminating resources, findings, and lessons learned
