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2026 Registration: ECHO Autism Communities Early Diagnostic Model Series

PLEASE NOTE: Thank you for your interest in the ECHO Autism Communities Early Diagnostic Model Series. We are only accepting registrations from New Jersey pediatric primary care providers who are members of the NJ Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative. This program is being offered by NJAAP's Project ECHO Hub in collaboration with The New Jersey Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative (NJPPC). Our team is excited to partner with you and other clinicians to improve and expand care for autistic children.

The ECHO Autism Communities Early Diagnostic Model Series is designed to equip primary care clinicians (PCPs) to screen, evaluate, and diagnose autism in young children (14-48 months) with straightforward (unambiguous) characteristics of autism. Participants will also learn autism best practices for longitudinal follow-up care post diagnosis. ECHO Autism Communities programs provide guided practice to PCPs as they master autism best practices for primary care.

Participants will receive training on the STAT (Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children) instrument.The STAT can only be administered in English and Spanish if you (the evaluator) speak fluent Spanish. The STAT instrument provides clinicians with a standardized clinical observation of the social-communicative and play behaviors often seen in children on the autism spectrum. The STAT instrument has shown to have great sensitivity and specificity as a measure of early autism detection. When utilized in conjunction with a diagnostic interview, a developmental screener such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, and a DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, trained clinicians have demonstrated to be able to provide accurate and early diagnosis of ASD.

Registration Requirements:
· Complete this registration form
· Participate in a virtual interview with our Hub Faculty

Participant Requirements: What can you expect if you are selected to participate in the ECHO Autism Early Diagnostic Model Series?

· Complete a training agreement/MOU which outlines program attendance, case presentation, and survey completion commitments.
· Attend our virtual orientation on October 14th from 12:30 - 1:30 pm
· Attend a two-day, in-person STAT instrument training at the NJPPC office (1340 Campus Pkwy suite c4, Wall Township, NJ 07753) on November 4th (8 am - 4 pm) & November 5th (8 am - 3 pm).
· Attend year-long bimonthly ECHO Autism: Primary Care Early Diagnosis zoom sessions on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 12:30 pm-2 pm starting December 2026 through November 2027. The sessions include a short didactic (knowledge burst) and case-based presentations.

Next Steps: Please complete the Registration form below.
1.Demographics(Required.)
2.Are you a member of the New Jersey Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative (NJPPC)? (Required.)
3.Are you predominantly a pediatric primary care provider?(Required.)
4.What is your specialty?(Required.)
5.What percentage of your practice is children less than 4 years old?(Required.)
6.What percentage of your patient population is Spanish-speaking? (Required.)
7.If your population of Spanish-speaking patients is higher than 51%, are you able to perform the STAT in Spanish?

*Please note that you cannot have an interpreter perform the STAT instrument.(Required.)
8.What counties does your practice serve? List all counties below. (Required.)
9.Do you have any prior experience or training with autism?(Required.)
10.How do you intend to use this training in the next 5 years?(Required.)
11.Are there any barriers you foresee to implementing this diagnostic process in your practice?(Required.)
12.Please share any other information pertaining to your interest in diagnosing young children with autism.(Required.)
13.Are you able to attend mandatory virtual orientation on October 14th from 12:30 - 1:30 pm?(Required.)
14.Are you able to attend the mandatory STAT training at our NJPPC Hub office, (Wall, NJ) November 4th 8am -4 pm, November 5th 8 am-3 pm? Hotel lodging available if needed for those traveling from far away(Required.)
15.Are you able to attend the ECHO Autism: Primary Care Early Diagnosis sessions on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month from 12:30 pm-2 pm starting December 3, 2026 through November 18, 2027? (Required.)
16.Are you able to commit to attending at least 75% (18 of 24) of the ECHO Autism: Primary Care Early Diagnosis sessions?(Required.)
17.Do you require any special accommodations or is there anything else you would like us to know for our in-person STAT Instrument Training on November 4th & 5th (e.g., food allergies, Certified Kosher)?
18.Are you a member of the New Jersey American Academy of Pediatrics (NJAAP)? Please note this is not referring to the national American Academy of Pediatrics membership.

Disclaimer: Your answer will not impact your ability to participate in this program.(Required.)
Thank you for your interest in the ECHO Autism Communities Early Diagnostic Model Series!

Once your registration has been submitted, our team will review your application and follow up with you for further instruction if selected for a virtual interview.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at mhc@njaap.org.