Fort Wayne, Ind. — Easterseals Community Network (ECN), in partnership with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana (Anthem) and RepuCare, is launching Indiana Autism Connections, an innovative care coordination program designed to support children and adolescents on the autism spectrum and their families.
The program will initially serve 150 families with Anthem Medicaid coverage in Allen and Kosciusko counties, with plans to expand into additional communities in the future.
Indiana Autism Connections provides personalized, relationship-based care coordination that brings together health care providers, schools, therapists, and community resources into one unified plan – ensuring young people and families receive the right support at the right time.
This approach reflects a fundamental shift in how care is delivered.
“Indiana Autism Connections represents what is possible when we stop asking families to navigate fragmented systems on their own and instead bring those systems together around them,” said Donna Elbrecht, CEO of Easterseals. “We’ve done this before, and the results were clear – children were healthier, families were stronger, and costly crisis care was avoided.”
A Proven Model – Now Expanding
This initiative builds on a model Easterseals successfully implemented in 2015 in partnership with Anthem Indiana Medicaid, where results demonstrated that care coordination leads to better health outcomes and more responsible use of healthcare resources.
In that earlier program, Easterseals outperformed a blind control group, achieving:
- A shift from crisis care to appropriate primary care
- Fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations
- Reduced pharmacy costs
- Improved overall health outcomes and quality of life
Additionally, 90% of families entered the program without services in place and were successfully connected to critical supports including education, health care, housing, and community resources.
“For children on the autism spectrum and their families, care too often feels disconnected and overwhelming,” said Kimberly Mayrose, M.D., Medicaid medical director for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana. “Indiana Autism Connections brings a more coordinated, whole-person approach, helping ensure families have access to the care and services they need in a way that improves health and well-being, and supports long-term success.”
“When care is coordinated, outcomes improve – not just for the child, but for the entire family and the systems that support them,” Elbrecht added. “It’s a smarter, more effective way to ensure we are doing what’s best for families while being good stewards of Medicaid and community resources.”
Transforming Outcomes for Families
The Indiana Autism Connections approach focuses on individualized, person-centered support and proactive planning. In previous implementation, Easterseals achieved:
- Zero emergency room visits through effective crisis planning
- 100% school participation among children and adolescents served
- 94% medication adherence, including reductions in over-medication
- 80% of family-centered goals achieved
- 100% of children up to date on immunizations
- 81% of families experiencing positive community engagement
Family-Centered, Relationship-Driven Care
At the heart of Indiana Autism Connections is a commitment to meeting Anthem members and their families where they are – building trust, removing barriers, and walking alongside them every step of the way.
- Families consistently report overwhelmingly positive experiences:
- “I like the support. I have gotten a lot of help from them.”
- “They travel to me, they have lots of information, and I would highly recommend them to others.”
- “God answered my prayers when he sent Easterseals to us … Easterseals is AWESOME.”
These voices reflect the impact of a model that is not only clinically effective but also deeply human.
###
About Easterseals Community Network
Easterseals Community Network is one of Indiana’s largest nonprofit providers of disability and family support services, serving more than 8,000 individuals and families each year across northern Indiana. With more than 70 years of experience, the organization is committed to delivering innovative, person-centered solutions that empower individuals and strengthen communities.
As the parent organization of Easterseals Northeast Indiana, based in Fort Wayne, and Cardinal Services, based in Warsaw, ECN leverages shared expertise and resources to maximize impact across communities. Its comprehensive programs focus on four key areas: enriching education, enhancing health, expanding employment, and elevating community—ensuring individuals and families have access to the support they need at every stage of life.
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us @AnthemBCBS on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.