SMART

The School and Medical Autism Review Team (SMART) is an innovative approach that addresses the critical need for timely autism evaluations, especially for children with Medicaid (Apple Health) insurance who face long wait lists at traditional diagnostic centers.

Session Details

County SMART teams or coalitions typically meet virtually from once a month to once a quarter. Contact the local organizer or [email protected] for more details.

The WA State SMART Networking zoom meeting is once a month and open to SMART members and interested partners.

Virtual Session Dates for WA SMART Networking zoom call

We alternate our meeting time every other month. Please see the exact days and times below.

2026 SMART SCHEDULE

Thursday, Jan 15, 12 – 1 pm
Friday, Feb 13, 1-2 pm
Thursday, March 19, 12 – 1 pm
Friday, April 10, 1-2 pm
Thursday, May 21, 12-1 pm
Friday, June 12, 1-2 pm
Thursday, July 16, 12- 1pm
Friday, August 14, 1-2 pm
Thursday, Sept 17, 12-1 pm
Friday, Oct 9, 1-2 pm
Thursday, Nov 19, 12-1 pm
Friday, Dec 11, 1-2 pm

Share Link:

What is SMART?

It is hard for many children and youth to find a timely medical autism evaluation, especially if they have Medicaid (Apple Health) insurance. Multi-disciplinary autism diagnostic centers that take Medicaid have long wait lists.

There is another way.

The School and Medical Autism Review Team (SMART) is an approach that builds local capacity for autism evaluations and support services for children and youth, especially those with Medicaid insurance.

Three Basic Models

SMART teams that bring together clinicians and community supports from different organizations to share assessments and insights for individual children as part of a coordinated autism evaluation and diagnosis.
SMART partnerships or coalitions that bring together community systems to organize and improve autism evals and support services in the county.
Communities that do both the SMART teams and communitywide outreach and organizing.

Each county has their own unique pathway based on the providers and services available in their community. SMART teams and partnerships include one or more clinicians who are an Autism Center of Excellence (COE).

SMART Support Team

Shayla Collins

Family

Sophie Maleng

MN, PPCNP-BC, ARNP

Kate Orville

MPH

Public Health and Community Partnerships

WA SMART Network

Community School Medical Autism Review Team (SMART) and Partnership Contacts

The SMART Network is made up of SMART teams, Partnerships/Collaboratives and interested agencies and individuals. Resource emails and team updates are shared with the list of 200+ community and state representatives on the SMART Network list. Community coordinators may then share the information with their full local group.

County Engagement Map Key

This map highlights engagement levels across Washington counties based on current SMART program participation.

Actively Engaged Counties

Counties currently participating in SMART initiatives and working collaboratively with WA Include.

Interested Counties

Counties where outreach, planning, or early-stage collaboration is underway.

No Current Engagement

Counties where SMART has not yet established formal partnerships or programs.

Core Components of a SMART team:

One or more Center of Excellence (COE) certified diagnosticians (MD/DO/PsyD/PhD/ND/ARNP/PA-C)
A team coordinator
At least one but preferably more community partners from schools, early intervention programs and other community services (SLPs, OTs, school psychologists, teachers etc.)
Family and patient supports (Parent to Parent, public health, ABA, mental/behavioral health)
Family and self-advocate representation (often co-represented by team members in professional roles too)
The team coordinator gives families instructions, any assessment tools and release of information forms to help the team understand their children. The coordinator then pulls together the information from the family and school/medical personnel that has been requested.
The team reviews information about each patient and decides whether to have them go forward with the COE.
If yes, then the COE meets with the child and family and completes the evaluation. The COE provides the diagnosis if appropriate.
Ideally, the COE does a warm handoff to a team community support person (Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) public health coordinator, Parent to Parent or other family support) is able to connect the family with local resources.

The closed loop of assessment to diagnosis to support services allows the team to understand what services are working well for families and which are not or simply do not exist. This often spurs the development of new resources.

Communities with both SMART Teams and Partnerships

Some communities chose both approaches. For example, Lewis County, co-developed and piloted the original SMART team as part of their Lewis County Autism Coalition work in 2010-11.

The SMART team is now just one of many of their initiatives, including an annual autism conference, Autism Support group for young adults, Cultivating Incusion, and Entiendo

SMART Partnerships / Collaboratives

The SMART Partnership/Collaborative/ model developed in 1) Counties that were too big to have one team doing evaluations for the county or 2) Counties that started with a SMART team but as the capacity of the COEs and community partners grew through team participation, they realized it was now more efficient to have children and youth go directly to the COEs for an evaluation.

In the SMART partnerships model:

A committed community facilitator(s) pulls together community partners- COEs, schools, early intervention, public health, family support, behavioral and mental health, advocates etc.—to meet typically once every 2 or 3 months and share updates and resources about related topics.
Members may work on specific system improvements like how local SLPs can prioritize COE ADOS evaluations, streamline information sharing between early intervention/schools and medical providers, make current resources lists and supports accessible to COEs and families, and develop materials in other languages.
Many communities develop community education and outreach activities around services and improved communication to target audiences.

WA INCLUDE ECHOs

COE clinicians often participate in Project ECHO Autism Washington to further develop their autism evaluation and care management skills.
Additionally, many non-COE team members join other Washington ECHOs focusing on supporting individuals with autism, intellectual disability, and/or other developmental disabilities and their families, including an ECHO focused on resources for families and their children.

For More information

Your local community SMART lead contact (see Matrix) or Kate Orville, MPH, [email protected] , University of WA, Medical Home Partnerships Project (MHPP).

The Washington State Department of Health, Children with Special Health Care Needs Program provides funding for the MHPP technical support to communities.

If you have any questions or need more information, our team is here to help—feel free to reach out!

County(ies)	Community Team and/or Network	Age Range	Appointment Process	Team Leads	Evaluation Capacity	Meeting Times & Dates	Mission & Notes
Benton Franklin	Tri-Cities Autism Coalition	Varies	See HCA Autism COE list for individual COE diagnosticians	Melissa Brooks, RN Autism Navigator The Arc of Tri-Cities [email protected] COE Liz Vossenkemper, ARNP United Family Center	N/A		Our Autism Journey – Better Together is sponsored by the Tri-Cities Autism Coalition whose purpose is to bring awareness and acceptance of Autism to our community. https://www.ourautismjourneytc.com/our-purpose/ Yearly community event begun April 2024 to share information and build support for individuals and their families with autism
Chelan Douglas	Valley Autism Support Team (VAST)	Varies	See HCA Autism COE list for individual COE diagnosticians	Nyssa Petersen Ventura, PhD COE Psychologist Chelan-Douglas VAST (SMART) Team Coordinator [email protected] Kevin Schell, MS, CCC-SLP Sound Therapy [email protected]	N/A	Second Tuesday of each month 6-7 pm Virtually (Zoom)	Website: https://www.vast-autism.org/
Clallam	Clallam SMART Team	18 months – 12 years	To make an appointment, call (360) 457-8578 at Olympic Medical Center	Primary Contact: Megan K. Seidl Patient Coordinator [email protected] COE Laura Bullen, MD Pediatrician Olympic Medical Center (OMC) Deborah Myers, MA, CCC-SLP Amy Young-Stoeckl, MA, CCC-SLP	6-8 children per month	Team meets once per quarter – on hold but COE evaluations are taking place	3-week process for evals: 1. 1 hour visit with MD 2. ADOS with SLP in the next 1-2 weeks 3. Back next week for 30 30-minute visit with MD
Columbia Walla Walla	Walla Walla Valley Autism Coalition			Columbia Primary Contact: Estasia Collins, PHN Columbia County Public Health District [email protected]
Island	Autism Partnership of Island County (APIC)		To access care https://www.pilotace.org/evaluation Talk to your child’s primary care provider. Two local psychologists do most evaluations.	Primary Contact: Rene Denman Director, Steps [email protected] Tiffany Wheeler Thompson Coordinator, Parent to Parent [email protected] Lead Team Coordinators & COEs: Amy Garrett, MD Julie Davies, PhD, Connections Psychology		2x per year full APIC; Third Friday of April and October, 1-3 pm (2x per quarter focused groups).	Single point of entry: Children are referred to one local collaborating Psychologist, Dr. Davies, for neurodevelopmental evaluation, regardless of insurance type. https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Commissioners/boh/2018/Autism%20Partnership%20Island%20County.pdf
Jefferson	Jefferson County SMART team	0-5	N/A	Coordinator: Cynde Marx Jefferson County Public Health [email protected] COEs: Lexa Murphy, PhD Melinda Bower, ND, Jefferson County Public Health (will be joining as a COE soon)	1 case per quarter for Dr. Murphy Dr. Bower’s capacity TBD	Monthly team meetings Quarterly evaluation
King	Individual COEs but efforts to bring together ABA and EI providers, along with COEs info sharing	N/A	See HCA Autism COE list for individual COE diagnosticians	Multiple Individual Activities: Kate Orville [email protected] Connections with EI, Community Health workers, and COEs: Marcee Merriam Family Autism and Insurance Navigator, Kindering [email protected] Arc of King County has expressed interest in exploring SMART for King County Christina Pease, MD and Heather Buzbee, ARNP SeaMar and South King County/Pierce County (Note: evaluations on pause 4/25)	N/A	Monthly round table meetings for EI/ABA/ and interested COES – one for South King County, one for North King County
Kitsap	Kitsap Autism Partnership (KAP)	Varies	See HCA Autism COE list for individual COE diagnosticians	Primary Contact: Angela Cox SMART Coordinator and Autism Resources Navigator Holly Ridge, [email protected]	N/A	Monthly core team meeting, started bigger quarterly meetings 12-1 pm with the community Virtually (Zoom)
Lewis	Lewis County Autism Coalition (LCAC) Team: Lewis County School Medical Autism Review Team (SMART) Other COEs: NW Pediatrics	Under age 18 Toddlers usually referred to Mary Bridge to meet with a team	Additional COEs Contact Shawn Tso, RN for NW Peds	Michelle Whitlow, Executive Director LCAC https://www.lcautism.org/autism-resources/smart-program/ Primary Contact: Shawn Tso, RN Northwest Pediatrics [email protected] 360-736-6778 COE: Avery Schearer, ARNP	Northwest Pediatrics 4-6 slots /month Depends if appts are follow ups or new pts since time reqs are different	NW Peds Team meets first Thursday of each month 7 am Virtually (Zoom)	Part of bigger community effort, Lewis County Autism Coalition which meets monthly https://www.lcautism.org/
Mason	Mason County SMART Team	Up to about age 17	To make an appointment, call Oakland Bay Pediatrics at Mason General Hospital (360) 426-3102	Primary Contact: Cassie Cartwright [email protected] COE Rose Anne Rayos, MD Pediatrician Mason General Hospital COE Ezekiel Melquist, MD Elizabeth Custis RN-BC, BAN, Public Health Nurse Mason County Public Health		Second Tuesday of each month 3:30-4:30 pm Virtually (Zoom)
Grays Harbor Pacific	Pacific /Grays Harbor County SMART	Used to be primarily Team for kids through age 10- now moving to Partnership	For Grays Harbor: Stefani Joesten Public Health Educator, Grays Harbor County Public Health [email protected] 360.500.4350 For Pacific County: Brianne Cline Pacific County Developmental Disabilities Coordinator [email protected]	Primary Contact: Erin Schreiber Healthy Families Program Manager Grays Harbor County Public Health 360.500.4065 [email protected] COEs: Ashley Taylor, ARNP Laura Gallati, ND	2-3 months	Second Friday of each month 11:30 am - 1 pm Virtually (Zoom)
Pierce Thurston	South Sound Autism Partnership (SSAP)	Presentations and resources	See HCA Autism COE list for individual diagnosticians	Primary Contact: Patti Matestic, PhD Developmental Behavioral Family Readiness Center Joint Base Lewis-McChord http://www.southsoundautism.org/ https://www.facebook.com/SouthSoundAutism/		Second Friday of each month 9:30-11 am Virtually (Zoom)	This group does not diagnose children but shares autism resources and information among clinical and service providers and family organizations in the South Sound region
San Juan	San Juan County Autism Collaborative (SJCAC)	Ages 3-18 or 21	Call Coordinator Kristen Rezabek 360-370-7518 Referrals for under age 3 will go to Steps Early Intervention (360-679-1039) Over age 3 will go through their School District Special Education Department (San Juan Island, Orcas Island and Lopez Island)	Primary Contacts Kristen Rezabek, MS, RD San Juan Health Department 360-3700-7518 [email protected] Becky Bell Director of Special Services San Juan Island School District [email protected]	1-3	Meets quarterly 4-5 pm Virtually (Zoom)
Skagit	Skagit County Autism Partnership (SCAP)	Younger children (2-5) but individual COEs may take a wider range	See HCA Autism COE list for individual COE diagnosticians	Primary Contact: Amanda Sloan Skagit Preschool and Resource Center (SPARC) [email protected] Multiple COEs including: Emily Bianconi ARNP & Rick Levine, MD Skagit Regional Health- Little Mountain Pediatrics Rowena Pusateri, MD Skagit Regional Health		Meets quarterly on Wednesday 7:30-8:30 am Virtually (Zoom) Jan, March, July and fall	To identify the needs, make recommendations, and advocate for improving a coordinated countywide system in Skagit County that enhances the lives of individuals and families living with developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders SCAP improves communication between all community partners, but does not diagnose children as a team. Refer children to individual COEs
Snohomish	Providence Snohomish COE Diagnostic Support Group (open across WA)	0-18ish	See HCA Autism COE list for individual COE diagnosticians	Contact: Jill McDaniel Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, Clinical Manager Providence Boyden Family Autism Center [email protected]		Meets on the second Wednesday of every month 12-1 pm Virtually (Zoom) Contact Jill McDaniel for an invite
Snohomish	Snohomish County Autism Network (SCAN)	0-3/5 for SCAN; see individual COEs for their ages		Network Facilitator: Jim Troutman, MD, COE Everett Clinic Other COE leads: Susana Myers, DO The Everett Clinic Ashleigh Adkins, ARNP Skagit Regional Health Community Resources: Jamie Coonts, Arc of Snohomish [email protected] EI Connections: Anna Gibson, Sherwood EI [email protected] Marcee Merriam, Autism Navigator, Kindering, [email protected]		On hold	SCAN improves communication between all community partners but does not diagnose children as a team. Refer children to individual Autism Centers of Excellence
Spokane	Spokane Autism Collaborative		COEs: Kristi Rice, MD Nalini Gupta, MD See HCA Autism COE list for individual COE diagnosticians	Primary Contact: Kristen Lester, RN Spokane Regional Health District [email protected] Others: Georgina Lynch, SLP WSU School of Medicine Northwest Autism Center		Second Monday of each quarter 12-1 pm Virtually (Zoom)
Stevens	Under exploration	TBD		Primary Contacts: NE Tri Health District: Natalie Todd [email protected] Stephanie White [email protected] Molly Corvino [email protected]
Columbia Walla Walla	Walla Walla Valley Autism Coalition	TBD		Krystal Ceron Walla Walla County Department of Community Health [email protected]	N/A	Coalition meets quarterly 5:30-7:30 pm with workgroups meeting in between
Whatcom	Whatcom Taking Action/GIDES (General Interdisciplinary Developmental Evaluation System)	Up to 8 currently	Refer to SEAS line at 360-715-1485 Several PCPs who are COEs will evaluate children See HCA Autism COE list for individual COE diagnosticians	Primary Contacts: Barbara Roxas GIDES Family Advocate The Arc of Whatcom County [email protected] 360-715-0170 ext. 304 Kathryn DeFilippo, MPH, MPA Community Health Specialist Whatcom County Health Dept. [email protected] COEs: Julie Cheek, MD Marianna Wright, ND Emily Worden, ND PeaceHealth
Whitman	Exploring			Primary Contact: Malisa McCabe, RN, BSN Whitman County Public Health [email protected]
Yakima	Diagnostic Center Children’s Village The ASD Diagnostic Clinic is part of a broad array of services offered at Children’s Village See HCA Autism COE list for individual COE diagnosticians in Yakima		If you have a concern about your child's development, talk to your primary care physician about a referral or start by taking a simple online developmental screening. You can also call Children's Village at 509.574.3200 or 800.745.1077	ASD Diagnostic Clinic COEs Darby Foor, ARNP Diane Liebe, MD Corrina Michels, ARNP Victoria Iribarren Valero, MD Eric Flake, MD Behavioral Health Cindy Myers, M.Ed., LMHC Clinical Supervisor of Behavioral Health [email protected]		The ASD Diagnostic Clinic occurs two to three times monthly	The following professionals may be part of the clinic day: OT SLP Behavioral/mental health therapist Clinical psychologist ESD 105 autism coordinator The team is led by a developmental and behavioral pediatrician and supported by a clinic coordinator. Generally two clinicians/therapists administer the assessment, and the child is also seen by a pediatrician to assess overall health or any other health issues that might be present.