JF&CS is delighted to receive a grant from The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism to support our Autism Navigation services! Our services offer a proactive, coordinated approach to meeting the needs of families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. For many families of children with ASD, understanding the processes and experiences associated with ASD can be daunting at first. The mission of Autism Navigation at JF&CS is to offer these families whatever resources and support they require while they maneuver through immediate and long-term challenges and plan for the future.

This grant will directly benefit the families we assist with our Family Advocacy service and focused clinical case management. Family Advocacy addresses the needs of our clients and their families by helping them access benefits, maximize school supports, assess treatment options, and provide guidance navigating the Massachusetts Special Education system. Family Advocacy also assists in long-term financial planning and family support from the initial diagnosis and through various transition points.

Our individualized case management service works with each client and their family to assess their immediate and long-term needs, helping them highlight and pursue goals that will lead to a more meaningful and purposeful life. Each client with ASD faces challenges unique to their personal story: residential placements, caregiving arrangements, access to public resources, and more. Tailoring each support plan to the individual client’s needs allows for a deeper understanding of their situation, better personalized and practical goals, and a higher case success rate.

This grant from The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism empowers JF&CS to continue these crucial services and provide compassionate aid to our clients with ASD and their families.