Partner Collaboration to Improve Autism Services

At HSNS, collaboration with partners is a guiding tenet in the quality improvement of its services. This is apparent in the work happening in the transformation of preschool autism services in Nova Scotia. The Provincial Preschool Autism Service (PPAS) was announced by the provincial government in April 2022. It is a partnership between IWK Health, Nova Scotia Health (NSH), HSNS and Autism Nova Scotia (ANS). Building on the strengths of the current system within which HSNS is a vital member, PPAS will represent a more comprehensive scope of services. There is a strong commitment on behalf of partners to collaborate in the transformation of services. The result is a new, integrated approach to service delivery which will provide autistic preschoolers in Nova Scotia the best possible start.

The work involved in transforming a provincial model of services is not a small task. “All partners are committed to ensuring children with or suspected of having autism and their families receive integrated services that meet their unique needs,” said Erin Christian, Director for the Provincial Preschool Autism Service with IWK Health. “Although there is a great deal of work ahead as we transition to a provincial model, this is a very exciting opportunity to create services with families.”

Central to the transformation of autism services is the direct connection with families and caregivers. Lisa Foley, PPAS Patient and Family Experience Advisor, says collaboration with service partners in building a new model is critical.

“I’m a mother of two children with autism. As a family, we have had many triumphs and challenges throughout our journey here in Nova Scotia,” she said. “Having my two children receive treatment with EIBI, HSNS, to name a few service providers, wasn’t always easy. I can now say the autistic community is being heard and it’s a privilege to collaborate with HSNS, NSH/IWK, ANS, and many other wonderful service providers in the province. We are creating new services for the preschool autism community and, I can tell you through experience, will make a difference in your journey. Collaborating alongside these service providers has been inspiring. I’m excited to be part of this ongoing project and to share ideas and come up with new opportunities for PPAS. I truly believe this will have a positive impact on the autism community going forward.”

An example of cross organizational collaboration within PPAS is the QuickStart Nova Scotia (QSNS) program, delivered by ANS with the help of HSNS Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs). This parent-mediated coaching program is designed to empower caregivers of toddlers with a suspected, provisional, or confirmed diagnosis of autism teaching them how to support their child’s development.

"This idea of providing a continuum of care and an integration of services to families has been the backbone of the QuickStart Program,” said ANS QuickStart Director, Jamie-Lynn Black. “HSNS has strongly supported this by the collaboration from director level to the ground level. Autism Nova Scotia and HSNS have evolved together, and the ongoing partnership allows us to continue to build on one another’s programs and services.”

QuickStart is now available across Nova Scotia as services launched in all four (health) zones in January 2023. “Parents report to us that strategies they learn and use to support their child in QuickStart are complementary to goals and training they receive at HSNS,” said Connor Bray-Stone, QuickStart Supervisor.

As the transformation of preschool autism services unfolds, HSNS and its partners will continue working in step together over the coming months. “There has been a demonstrated history in Nova Scotia of organizations collaborating to support children with autism and their families, and HSNS has been a key partner in this collaboration,” says Christian. “Going forward, the strong partnership that exists between IWK Health, NSH, HSNS and ANS is an asset to ensuring a cohesive and integrated approach to providing children and families with the variety of services they need.”