MMI autism clinic to open in Fremont this month

The Munroe-Meyer Institute’s first Autism Care for Toddlers Clinic outside of the Omaha metropolitan area is set to open later this month.

The clinic, opening in Fremont, will be MMI’s third ACT Clinic.

ACT Clinics are a community outreach program, providing one-on-one early intervention services to toddlers with autism spectrum disorders, said Amber Paden, program coordinator at the new clinic. All three clinics offer the same services.

The Fremont metro and surrounding rural communities are currently without clinic-based applied behavior analytic services for children with autism spectrum disorders, Paden said. Some families travel to Omaha for services, but that can pose hardships.

“Providing access to care for Fremont and the surrounding smaller communities can be really life-changing for families and enhance the overall quality of life for kids and their families,” Paden said.

ACT clinics serve children up to kindergarten eligibility. At full capacity, the new clinic will be able to serve 15 to 20 children at a time, Paden said. The clinic will serve families from Dodge County and surrounding rural areas.

Funding for the clinic comes, in part, from an ARPA grant through the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska designed to provide behavioral health training to rural areas and establish providers there.

Clinic officials are working with Midland University to bring in Applied Behavior Analysis students for internships and training.

Currently MMI offers internship opportunities for applied behavior analysis students at Midland. This year multiple human services students will complete internships at the Fremont clinic.

“We want to continue to grow the collaboration with Midland by offering training and introducing them to the behavioral health services we provide,” Paden said.

Everyone on staff has Fremont ties, including long-time residents and students from Midland University. Paden has lived in the community for more than two decades.

“Having lived here as long as I have, and having children myself, I’m aware that resources are limited in smaller communities,” Paden said. “Bringing these services will change the lives of so many families that otherwise wouldn’t have opportunities to access these services.”

The Fremont clinic is a leading example of setting up ACT clinics outside of the Omaha metropolitan area, said Regina Carroll, director of ACT Clinics.

“We are hoping that once successful we will be able to use this model to set up ACT clinics in other locations throughout Nebraska increasing the reach of the services we provide,” Carroll said.