DDS
The California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) has the primary guiding role for the ASD: Guidelines Project. In the Spring of 2005, DDS initiated communication with other state departments and agencies and key stakeholders and began the process of producing a document on evidence-based interventions. DDS has maintained a leadership role in building support and participation from key parties involved in providing services to persons with ASD. DDS has been instrumental in translating the vision of the project into an operational plan and for establishing a project Oversight and Advisory Committees. DDS has provided funding to carry out the project and maintains responsibility for approval for project activities and hiring of the project contractor.
Oversight Committee
The Oversight Committee (OC) serves to provide general oversight of the operation of the project. Rick Ingraham, Manager, Children and Family Services Branch, DDS, chairs the Committee. The OC is responsible for advising the project’s contractor and DDS on the work plan, collaboration issues and project timeline. Subcommittees comprised of members of the Oversight Committee have been formed to address specific project areas, including issues related to document content and project methodology.
Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee (AC) is comprised of representatives of stakeholder groups with specific interest in and commitment to developing best practice treatment guidelines for persons with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). These stakeholder groups include the following: regional centers, public policy developers, direct service providers, public service institutions, advocacy groups, parent groups, school districts/SELPAs, managed care organizations, and relevant state departments. Members of the Advisory Committee serve at the request of the Director of the California Department of Developmental Services. The role of AC members is to work collaboratively to offer advice and recommendations on resources necessary for the project and ensure that the interests of the groups they represent are reflected in the evidence-based guidelines. Consensus among AC members is essential to the guideline development process.
Contractor - CIHS at Sonoma State University
California Institute on Human Services (CIHS) has primary strategic and operational responsibility for coordinating activities related to the project and the development of project products, including the ASD: Guidelines Document. These activities include reviewing and coordinating all project activities, ensuring timely progress to goals, preparing progress reports, working with oversight and advisory bodies, and maintain public relations. With input and recommendation from DDS and the Oversight Committee, CIHS also has primary responsibility to hire and retain project methodologists, expert consultants, writers and editors. CIHS is responsible for coordinating the participation and contributions of the project consultants as well as the OC, AC, and subcommittees.
Project Consultants
Content Experts, Methodologists, Writers, and Editors
While the Advisory Committee will be providing input on the outline for the document, multiple experts on effective, evidence-based interventions will be contributing content. Additional consultants will be retained as appropriate to support the final writing and editing of the document. Consultants are chosen by the contractor with advice from the project Oversight Committee and work under the direction of the contractor.
Partnerships and Collaborations
In addition to the participants described above, a number of other organizations are collaborating on various aspects of the project. In addition to the formal inter-agency relationships, these groups are represented on both the Advisory and Oversight Committees.
There has been ongoing partnership with California Department of Education (CDE) since the planning and inception of the project, with CDE represented on both the OC and AC. The ASD: Guidelines project is also collaborating with the National Standards Project (NSP), including data sharing, as well as the State of California Blue Ribbon Commission and the Pavley Bill Advisory Committee.