Arc Of The Ozarks

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - NON-CONSTRUCTION - PROJECT ABSTRACT THE ARC OF THE OZARKS -MERCY AUTISM DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT CLINIC – BRANSON 448 STATE HWY 248, BRANSON, MISSOURI 65616 TIM DYGON, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT 417-864-7887EXT.3235 TDYGON@THEARCOFTHEOZARKS.ORG WWW.THEARCOFTHEOZARKS.ORG COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING GRANT REQUEST: $800,000 2021 GRANT FUNDS AWARD - $10,000 O’REILLY CHARITY CHAMPIONSHIP FOR CLINIC FAMILY ADVOCATE PERSONNEL COSTS. DESCRIPTION LOCATED IN BRANSON, MISSOURI, THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE AUTISM EVALUATIONS AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO RESIDE IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES. THROUGH THE EVALUATION PROCESS, FAMILIES WILL RECEIVE DIAGNOSTIC CLARITY AS WELL AS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY SUPPORT PLAN TO ADDRESS THEIR CHILD’S UNIQUE NEEDS. THIS COLLABORATIVE PROJECT WITH MERCY AND THE ARC ALIGNS WITH BEST PRACTICE STANDARDS, INCLUDES A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO DIAGNOSTICS AND THERAPIES, AND PROVIDES EARLY-INTERVENTION THERAPIES AND STRATEGIES DESIGNED TO SUPPORT CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM AND IMPROVE LONG-TERM OUTCOMES. THE PREVALENCE OF ASD HAS BEEN INCREASING OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES AND HAS ACCELERATED EVEN MORE DURING THIS PAST DECADE. ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC), AUTISM IS IDENTIFIED IN 1 IN 44 CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES. MANY BARRIERS EXIST FOR PARENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT PREVENT EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND LIMIT THERAPEUTIC SERVICES. A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER IS THE LONG WAITLISTS FOR AUTISM EVALUATIONS, WHICH IS PRESENTLY LONGER THAN 6 MONTHS IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI. THERE ARE PRESENTLY FIVE AUTISM CLINICS IN MISSOURI WITH THE CLOSEST IN COLUMBIA, MISSOURI -160 MILES AWAY. MANY FAMILIES ARE UNDERINSURED AND DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE AREA TO OBTAIN SERVICES. WITH A FORMAL DIAGNOSIS REQUIRED TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, A LOCAL AUTISM CLINIC FOR THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF SOUTHWEST MISSOU RI IS NECESSARY TO INCREASE ACCESS TO DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPY SERVICES. THIS CLINIC WILL NOT DENY SERVICE TO ANYONE IN NEED. THE ARC OF THE OZARKS WILL OFFER NO COST ADVOCACY SERVICES THAT CONNECT FAMILIES TO LOCAL RESOURCES AND SERVICES THAT THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. THIS PROJECT WILL FUND START-UP AND OPERATIONAL EXPENSES THROUGH FY22.