Project ECHO - Autism Spectrum Disorders for Allied Health Professionals (Spring 2026)

Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 12:00 PM - Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 1:30 PM, Online

By participating in Echo Autism, allied health professionals receive mentoring focused on improving their knowledge, confidence and competence in managing children with ASD in their respective practices. Participants receive direct benefits in the form of knowledge gained and continuing education credit. Ultimately, participation will benefit children with autism and their families by enhancing access to best-practice medical care in local communities.

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Intended Audience
This course has been designed for Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Social Workers, Care Coordinators, Psychologists, Registered Nurses, and Teachers.

Session Dates
1st and 3rd Wednesday |February 4 - May 20, 2025 | 12:00 - 1:30 PM (ET)

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Featured Faculty
Jen Smith, PsyD
Dr. Smith is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and a clinical psychologist with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. She is a board-certified behavior analyst. Dr. Smith is the Program Director of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) Training Program in the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s.

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What is Project ECHO?
Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a revolutionary guided-practice model that reduces health disparities in your state, nation, and world. Through innovative tele-mentoring, the Project ECHO model uses a hub-and-spoke knowledge-sharing approach where expert teams lead virtual sessions, amplifying the capacity for providers to deliver best-in-practice care to the patients in their own communities. Watch a brief video here.

How It Works
The Project ECHO model is built on four key principles:

• Use technology to leverage scarce resources

• Share best practices to reduce disparities

• Apply case-based learning to master complexity

• Evaluate and monitor outcomes

During Project ECHO sessions, a learner from the community shares a de-identified case challenge or case concept based on their real-world experience. A brief overview of the case is shared during the ECHO session, followed by clarifying questions and a collaborative discussion. Together, the group provides recommendations, shares best practices, and offers guidance rooted in collective expertise and evidence-informed approaches.

Why Join?

• Free, interactive learning sessions

• Practical strategies to apply immediately in practice

• Collaboration and networking with peers and specialists

• Expert feedback on real-world cases

• Participate from the convenience of your office or home

iECHO Information
All registered learners must create an iECHO account to participate. iECHO is the web-based program management system developed by the ECHO Institute.

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What Clinicians and Partners say about Project ECHO:
“I feel more confident and it makes providing care easier. This project allows for increased opportunities to learn, and patients to get better care.”

“Project Echo has been a valuable learning experience for me, and I have learned and incorporated new ideas into my practice as a direct result of my participation. I find that sharing in a group setting and seeing how others approach problems to be a good way of synthesizing how I would or might approach things in my daily practice. I highly recommend participation in Project Echo learning opportunities as they come available."

1. Apply evidence-informed strategies to support patients or populations with specialized, evolving, or unmet needs in the learner’s local setting.
2. Collaborate effectively across disciplines, professions, and systems of care by clarifying roles, improving communication, and integrating shared decision-making into routine workflows.
3. Increase confidence and capacity to address challenging or nuanced clinical situations locally, reducing unnecessary referrals and enhancing continuity, access, and equity in care.

In support of improving patient care, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Nursing:   This activity is approved for a maximum 1.50 continuing nursing education (CNE) contact hours.

Clinical Counselor: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is an approved provider of professional counselor continuing education credits by the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board, Provider #RCX111201. This program is approved for 1.5 clock hours (per session).

Social Worker: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is an approved provider of Social Worker, Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist continuing education by the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board. Provider numbers (RSX069302) and (RCT052503). This session is approved for 1.5 clock hours.

Occupational Therapy: This CE activity meets OT requirements for the state of Ohio and is approved for up to 1.50 credit hours. Occupational therapists must retain proof of content (e.g., brochure, agenda, notes, etc.) and proof of credit and verification of participation (e.g., certificate or transcript.)

Speech Language Pathologist: This activity provides credit through Cincinnati Children's accreditation with Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education (JA). This activity can be counted towards ASHA professional development hours (PDH). Credits should be reported with a 1:1 reciprocity up to the total activity maximum of 1.5 credit hours (per session). SLPs should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Teacher: 1.5 Contact Hours of Educator Credit are provided. Final approval of Certificates of Participation will be determined by your Local Professional Development Committee (LPDC). Keep all Certificates of Participation with your Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP).

Psychology: Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological  Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. This activity is approved for 1.50. Eligible for ethics/cultural competency/professional conduct. 

IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.50 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change. 

The credit hours listed below are not final, please check back closer to the activity for final approved credit hours.

APA Psychology Regular CE (1.50 hours), CME - Non-Physician (Attendance) (1.50 hours), Counseling (G) (1.50 hours), Nursing CE (1.50 hours), Social Work – (OH CSWMFT) (1.50 hours), Speech (1.50 hours), Teaching (LPDC) (1.50 hours)

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

No faculty are available for this activity at this time.