Chattanooga
Autism Center
Parent Support
DISCLAIMER: The CAC has compiled lists of autism-related resources in our region to help you save time searching for them on the web. This list of service providers is for informational purposes only and being listed does not constitute the endorsement of the CAC.
If you would like us to add a resource or update a resource, contact us at 423-531-6961 opt. 0 or email info@chattanoogaautismcenter.org
Care Navigator
The Anna Shaw Children’s Institute has a Care Navigator to assist families through the diagnostic and treatment processes. The Care Navigator can help families find resources specific to the child and family’s needs, such as camps for children, therapeutic horseback riding, guardianships, community or diagnosis specific support groups, educational support, etc.
Ages Served: Birth - 11 years old
Referral: Needed
CHAMP (Classes to Help Advise and Motivate Parents) Series
Anna Shaw Children’s Institute will provide parenting education classes/workshops monthly to help inform and educate. These classes will be on different topics presented by a member of the care team at the Anna Shaw Children's Institute in the Southern Magnolia rooms on the 1st floor. Classes are held the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6 pm. RSVP required at 706 226 8911 with childcare provided to the
first 10 families who request it. Class participation is open to all parents, participants are not required to be an active patient at the Anna Shaw Children's Institute. A schedule of class topics will be posted on the ASCI website www.Hamiltonhealth.com/children
Childcare Ages Served: Birth - 11 years old
Referral: Needed
Website: https://www.hamiltonhealth.com/services/anna-shaw-childrens-institute
Location: 1201 Burleyson Rd Dalton, GA 30721
Phone: (706) 226-8900
Vacations for those with special needs. Vacations for families, adults and group homes living with autism, Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities. Cruise and land resort options. Cruises are scheduled throughout the year from different ports around the country.
Website: www.autismontheseas.com/
Seeking Parent Training? Family ECHO: Autism is a virtual learning program for families and caregivers raising children with autism. This series is designed to educate families so that parents and caregivers can learn to better support and care for their child with autism.
They connect families with each other, community resources, experienced parent mentors, tools to navigate complex systems in healthcare and insurance and more. They train families, by empowering them to advocate for the needs of their child and to lead in their local communities and beyond. They serve families and children across all diagnoses and all ages.
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Website: https://www.familyvoicestn.org/
Email: Molly_a@tndisability.org
Office/Cell: 256-702-0606
Link to Video: https://youtu.be/gJ2fH9WpCvM?feature=shared
Mind & Motion Developmental Centers of Georgia is offering a once per month parent support group to parents/caregivers of children with developmental disabilities.
Location: 5050 Research Court, Suite 800 Suwanee, GA
Cost: Free
Email: elizabeth@mindmotioncenters.com
Call: (503) 278-6542
Website: https://www.mindmotioncenters.com/
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Parent Perspectives: Creating a Circle of Support-Prioritizing Self-Care​
This panel discussion is part of the Exploring Autistic Life and Culture project, funded by HumanitiesTN.
AutismTN invites parents, caregivers, and other allies to the Autistic community to our Parent Perspectives series. These panels create an affirming space for parents (+ others) to share their unique experience as caregivers to Autistic people. We believe bringing these supportive networks together is an act of community care as we all journey through a world designed without neurodivergent families in mind.
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Website: https://autismtennessee.wildapricot.org/event-5925478
When: November 21st, 2024 | 6 p.m. CT
Where: Online via Zoom
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Positive Solutions for Families​​
Positive Solutions for Families (PSF) is a no cost parenting class for parents and caregivers that have children ages 0-6 years of age that may be experiencing challenging behaviors at home and or at school. Positive Solutions for Families (PSF) is an evidence-informed seven-part series of training sessions that will help parents improve their interactions with their kids, promotes social and emotional skills, and helps them to learn techniques on how to address challenging behaviors. The link provided is our direct intake form where you can choose to take PSF in a cohort (group setting) or individually. The PSF facilitator will contact you directly.
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Email: amissa.keller@tnvoices.org
Call: (615)-269-775
Website: https://readysetgrow.socialsolutionsportal.com/apricot-intake/c3b72435-aeec-4348-8586-2a93941e557c​​​
Grab your favorite beverage and join us online for an opportunity to connect with other dads and father figures.
Date: Monthly on the 3rd Tuesday of each month
See Autism TN event calendar for all dates.
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Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM CST​
Website: https://autismtn.org/event-5483631
Location: Online on Zoom
SOCAT currently offers care coordination using a wraparound approach for young children, children, youth, and young adults and their families. SOCAT serves those with the highest needs through a high fidelity wraparound process. Wraparound is a planning process that follows a series of steps to help children and their families realize their hopes and dreams. The wraparound process also helps make sure children and youth grow up in their homes and communities.
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Eligibility Information
Criteria for Services
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Serving young child-young adult: between the ages of 0-21;
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Youth experiencing emotional or behavioral concerns that affect their daily life (i.e. having trouble in school, with their family, with peers or adults, with law enforcement, or children's services);
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Youth having difficulty or is at-risk of being kicked out of pre-school, child care, school, home, etc;
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Youth currently, or is at-risk of psychiatric hospitalization, residential placement, or DCS custody
Make A Referral: http://socacrosstn.org/make-a-referral/
Website: http://socacrosstn.org/
Contact: Keri Virgo, SOCAT Director, 615-770-0462 or Jill Murphy, 865-696-4424
Email: keri.virgo@tn.gov or jill.murphy@tn.gov
TN Voices is a statewide and national source of referral, support, and advocacy for families and the systems that serve them. They have a large section of parent training options! TNV has reached more than 50,000 parents / caregivers, family members, and professionals.
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Examples of parent training include:
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Common Sense Parenting
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Parent 2 Parent Advocacy Training
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Family Support Specialist Competency Course
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Strengthening Families
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Nurturing Parenting
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Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
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Early Childhood Trainings
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Phone: (800)-670-9882
Email: tvc@tnvoices.org
Website: tnvoices.org/
Training Options: tnvoices.org/trainings/
Looking for training on topics such as Challenging Behavior, Engagement, Play, and Connection, Navigating Resources, Developing Routines and Promoting Daily Living Skills, Communication, Sleep, Toilet Training, Caregiver Self-Care, etc? Check out the TRIAD Families First video library. Families First is a free program for caregivers of young children (ages 2-7) newly diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Their primary goal is to equip caregivers with practical tools to support their child, to provide resources to more easily apply strategy and planning ideas, and to give caregivers an opportunity to meet other caregivers with similar questions or concerns. Families First also schedules live trainings. Some are in person in Nashville and others are virtual.
Video Library: https://vkc.vumc.org/vkc/triad/ff-web/
Schedule for live trainings: https://vkc.vumc.org/vkc/triad/fam/
Phone: (615) 322-7565
E-mail: familiesfirst@vumc.org
Visit the following website to view an essential guide to traveling with a medical condition and tips for traveling safely:
Airport and Special Needs Travel: A Complete Guide.
This site offers tips for navigating through the airport safely:
http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2012/05/03/airports-and-special-needs-travel-a-complete-guide/