Autism New Jersey Welcomes Kayla Torres as Community Engagement Coordinator

Autism New Jersey is pleased to announce that Kayla Torres, MPA has joined the organization to strengthen its engagement with diverse communities statewide.

Kayla is spending her first year at Autism New Jersey learning about each of the agency’s initiatives with a focus on supporting the newly formed Law Enforcement Initiative. Long-term, she will be helping to further the agency’s values of diversity, equity, and inclusion by increasing outreach to underserved communities who traditionally have had less access to information and services. Her focus will be on ensuring that Autism New Jersey’s strong and caring support system reaches all of New Jersey’s communities.

“Engaging with and supporting the entire autism community, especially those who are unsafe and underinformed, are top priorities for Autism New Jersey, and we are expanding our capacity to do this in a meaningful and enduring way,” said Dr. Buchanan. She continued, “Kayla combines humility and compassion with experience and drive. Once she has a fuller understanding of best practices in treatment, family support, and how we support our helpline callers and advocate for statewide change, Kayla will be engaging with parents and community leaders to bring Autism New Jersey to them, enhancing the way we support the entire community.”

Kayla has a Master’s of Public Administration and years of leadership experience at The North Ward Center, where she helped to deliver impactful programs for the urban community. She had an instrumental role in the youth leadership development program and also served on the team that pioneered the development of Hope House, the first permanent group home in Newark. Additionally, she guided their Family Success Center to statewide recognition as a model program in New Jersey.

Kayla said, “I am excited to join Autism New Jersey to engage with and represent diverse communities. I am driven by the desire to level the playing field for diverse populations so that all individuals with autism can access the treatment and support they need and deserve.”

Are you a law enforcement officer, prosecutor's office, or work in a related professional role? We welcome the opportunity to connect with you. Please email us at LE@autismnj.org.