Consultation Program for Intellectual/Developmental Disability (I/DD) and Severe Challenging Behavior (SCB)

Autism New Jersey and The Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development are contracted by Children’s System of Care (CSOC) to provide consultation for youth with Intellectual/Developmental disabilities and severe challenging behavior. These youth, and their families, have complex needs and may benefit from additional clinical expertise. Please see below to determine who is appropriate for referral and to learn more about how Autism New Jersey and the Boggs Center may be involved and provide consultation.

Appropriate for referral

  • An intellectual/developmental disability (e.g. Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome)
  • Possible co-occurring mental health or psychiatric diagnoses
  • One or more of the following presenting problems:

Challenges with Treatment

  • Difficulty accessing appropriate treatment and services (ABA, clinical, IIH, IIC)
  • Limited response to treatment
  • Lack of diagnostic clarity or other comprehensive evaluations

Severe Challenging Behavior (SCB) – ongoing dangerous behavior causing safety concerns such as aggression, self-injury, property destruction, or elopement.

  • Injury or risk of injury to self or family members
  • Unable to access community services (doctor visits, school, etc.) and/or behavior causing 911 calls, visits to ER/crisis screening centers

Other Challenging Behavior – related to autism such as feeding, sleep, severe stereotypy, or ritualistic behavior.

Deficits in Adaptive Behavior – limited/no functional communication and minimal adaptive life skills (toileting, self-care)

Supervision Needs – Requires constant supervision or redirection

Health/Medical – Multiple medical challenges, unable to access needed care

Complex circumstances and dynamics – Exposure to traumatic events, problematic family dynamics, psychosocial needs, team conflicts

Referral Process

  • Obtain parent or guardian’s consent to have general, non-identifying information about their child shared via this parent/guardian consent form
  • Once parent or guardian consent for consultation is obtained, please submit a HIPAA-compliant online referral form
  • You will receive a response from a consultant within 2 business days
  • Requesting parties will be contacted by either Autism New Jersey or The Boggs Center depending on the youth’s clinical needs. On occasion, both agencies may remain involved in the consultation process.

Please note that this new process and referral form replaces prior processes for requesting consultation

Submit a Referral

How Autism New Jersey can help

  • Match care managers with an experienced consultant

  • Conduct a service review to maximize services funded by others (e.g., educational entitlement, insurance, and Medicaid)

  • Provide expert clinical guidance, including advice on empirically validated treatments, best practices, and appropriateness of service

  • Collaborate to support the development of a clinically appropriate plan to improve safety and quality of life for youth and family members

  • Assist in navigating complex family and team dynamics

For more information on our consultation, please contact Lauren Frederick, M.A., BCBA, Director of Clinical Initiatives at lfrederick@autismnj.org or 609.588.8200 X10015