New Jersey’s Early Intervention Program Underused By Children With Autism From Underserved Communities

Participation in New Jersey’s Early Intervention Program (EIP) from 2006 through 2016 by children with autism was lower among those in low-income communities. About 41.1% of children with autism living in areas designated as “poverty areas” participated in EIP compared to 48.0% of children with autism in non-poverty areas. A poverty area is defined as one where more than 20% of residents have income below the federal poverty level.

Minority children also had low EIP participation rates, as follows:

Hispanic children were between 23% and 39% less likely to participate in EIP than non-Hispanic . . .