Child Health Specialty Clinics (CHSP) Iowa Regional Autism Assistance Program (RAP)

Child Health Specialty Clinics (CHSC) Iowa Regional Autism Assistance Program (RAP) is a pediatric therapy practice that provides community-based clinical consultation, multidisciplinary care planning recommendations, and family to family support for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. They use standardized tools to identify children at risk for ASD and help families find diagnostic services and community-based supports. The RAP team also provides technical assistance and training on evidence-based screening and assessment tools to medical home early intervention community providers. CHSC's Regional Autism Assistance Program serves children and youth with special health care needs and their families in Iowa. They offer gap-filling clinical care, health assessments, care coordination, and family to family support. The practice provides access to pediatric specialists through telehealth and has a team of Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs) who provide developmental and behavioral screenings and assessments, mental health care, medication management, and other clinical supports. CHSC's Family Navigators are staff members who are also the parent or primary caregiver of a child with special health care needs. They work with families to provide emotional support, systems navigation, and connections to community resources. The practice has multiple locations throughout Iowa, including Sioux City, where the Iowa Regional Autism Assistance Program is based.