535 Bandera Road, San Antonio, TX 78228
Autism Community Network (ACN) was founded in 2008 through a consortium of healthcare funders led by Palmer Moe and the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation. The primary purpose of ACN is to improve the health and quality of life of children with autism by providing early, uniquely tailored diagnostic services to children suspected of having autism, therapies to families impacted by autism, and support through training for caregivers and providers whose interaction with autistic children is critical to their success. Additionally, ACN works diligently to educate the community about autism and to the best of their ability, the experience of the impacted family and autistic individual.
ACN serves children ages 0-7 through its clinical diagnostic program, and ages 0-9 for occupational therapy and speech language therapy. The organization currently offers the following programs (a) diagnostic services for children, (b) therapies for children and families affected by autism, (c) classes for caregivers affected by autism, (d) professional development for professionals serving children with autism, (e) continued care coordination, (f) community outreach and awareness, (g) quality of life programming (Camp AUSOME!, Family Events, Community Collaborations).
ACN is currently one of two agencies serving the Medicaid populations in Bexar, and surrounding counties, with clinical diagnostic services. ACN’s current waitlist is 6 months for their Earliest Connection Clinic (0-29 months of age) and 18 months for their Diagnostic Clinic (30 months to 6 years of age).
Since its inception in 2008, ACN has served over 27,000 individuals – an estimated 75% of whom are Medicaid eligible. In 2021 alone, ACN served 2,150 children, caregivers and other professionals through its unique programming options, 85% of whom are below the poverty line.
In March of 2023, in partnership with Broadstreet Impact Services (formerly Local Initiatives Support Corporation), Crescent closed on a $5.5M Federal NMTC financing to purchase, renovate and expand an existing facility into the new home of the Autism Community Network (“ACN”). The new 10,346 sf ACN headquarters facility will provide the organization with adequate clinical space to serve a growing referral base, as well as a large sensory gym, a playground and a community center.
The new facility will decrease ACN’s diagnostic waitlist by 3-6 months, increase the amount of therapy offerings, expand education and training for autism service providers and caregivers and improve upon quality-of-life offerings by including appropriate play areas, both indoor and outdoor, for the autistic community, all in a safe, sensory-friendly and warm facility.
The NMTC net benefit will provide ACN with the ability to reduce its fundraising target by nearly $650K and facilitate ACN’s expansion of its existing programming by 63% over the next five years. The project is expected to create at least 10 FTE’s over the next 7 years.