Projects to Advance Integrative Health Equity throughout the Osher Center FY25-26

Crowd-sourcing innovative ideas to support and improve access to integrative health through cross-program collaboration to benefit the Osher Center for Integrative Health community.

Early Autism Intervention for at Risk Children

Submitted by Marliese Warren (UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health) on April 19, 2025 - 9:52am
Primary Author: Sanford Newmark
Project Idea Status: 
Open

  1. Description of project (150 words) 

 This proposal seeks funding to launch an early intervention initiative for children with autism from underserved communities, by bridging a partnership between Osher Center and ZSFG. Research shows children from low-income, and minority backgrounds are diagnosed up to 2.5 years later than their peers, significantly delaying access to therapy during critical developmental windows. Barriers include limited healthcare access, cultural stigma, and provider shortages. Early intervention can improve communication, social skills, and long-term independence, yet disparities persist. Through integrative care, family-centered support, and culturally informed outreach, this program aims to reduce treatment delays and improve clinical outcomes to bridge the gap in care and give every child a stronger start. 

  1. Deliverables 

Focused outreach and treatment of a limited number of patients during the first year.

 

  1. Impact on Osher Center Community 

  1. List of team members and their roles 

Project leads: Sanford Newmark, MD and Fatima Barragan, MD 

Comments

Ariana Jostad-Laswell - April 21, 2025 - 11:18am

This seems like an important way to expand the pediatric care that is available through Osher so that more safety-net patients can access care. Would this be a way to bring SFGH patients to Osher to receive care? Or offering expanded services at SFGH?

Dorothy Chiu - April 23, 2025 - 1:03pm

this project is very interesting and agree, important! I'm curious how the project and funds would be used to achieve the deliverables of outreach and treatment and how/which integrative strategies would be applied? I imagine there are many possible routes that could be taken!

Christa Fernando - April 23, 2025 - 5:00pm

This is an exciting project! I am also curious what 'focused outreach and treatment' would look like. Will this be a program that providers refer their patients to or a public program? I'm also curious if a group medical visit model might be helpful here especially for caregiver support...

Yvette Coulter - April 23, 2025 - 6:59pm

 Fostering a partnership between the Osher Center and SFGH is truly fantastic, as it could harness the strengths of both institutions to offer comprehensive and integrative care for children with autism.

However, several questions arise regarding the specifics of service delivery:

  • In what form will the collaboration between the two institutions take? Will it involve referring patients to the Osher clinic or expanding services directly at the family health center? 
  • If expanded services at SFGH are envisioned, what would this entail? Would it involve establishing a General Medical Visit (GMV) model or adding clinic shifts and additional providers? 

I am excited to learn more!