US HHS launches initiative to improve response to missing autistic individuals

Aug 21 (Reuters) - U.S. ‌Health Secretary ​Robert ​F. Kennedy Jr. on Friday launched an initiative to improve preparedness and response ‌when autistic individuals are reported missing.

Here are ⁠more details:

• The National Autism Missing and Endangered Person ‌Alert Initiative will work ‌to strengthen coordination among emergency management agencies, law enforcement, first responders, and community partners nationwide, HHS ​said in a statement.

• The initiative will also establish a national framework of best ⁠practices to address the leading causes of preventable injury and death ​among autistic individuals, which include accidental drowning linked to wandering and elopement.

• According to ​the latest data from ‌the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism affects about one in 31 ⁠children in the United States.

• At an April 28 meeting, an interagency autism committee approved several recommendations, ⁠including enhanced screening for co-occurring medical conditions and the ​development of federal guidance on wandering and elopement.

• In addition to this initiative, the Department of Health and Human ‌Services is releasing a broad set of coordinated actions to improve the ‌safety, healthcare, and services available to individuals with ⁠autism across all stages ‌of life, HHS ​said in its statement.

(Reporting by Sneha S K in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju ‌Samuel)

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