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New funding from CareSource to provide autism services to low-income families Easterseals Northeast Central Florida one of 10 affiliates nationwide to receive grant DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., May 9, 2023 – Easterseals Northeast Central Florida announced today it will receive a grant of $30,000 to support its Family Intensive Training (FIT) Program to provide low-income families with 10-12 hours of autism services. The grant is part of a national $2.55 million donation CareSource, a nationally recognized leader in managed care, made to Easterseals in late 2022. “We are honored to be among the many Easterseals Affiliates benefiting from CareSource’s support,” said Bev Johnson, President & CEO of Easterseals Northeast Central Florida. “This gift will allow us to offer support and potentially substantial developmental gains and family skill-building to families who may not have access to traditional ABA services.” For more than 30 years, CareSource enterprise has built trusted relationships with the mission of transforming health care with innovative programs and a family-centered model of care that address the social determinants of health, health equity, prevention and access to care. CareSource and its family of brands have been a part of improving quality of services offered to Floridians since 2019. The nonprofit, nationally recognized managed care organization serves over 2.3 million members and administers one of the largest Medicaid managed care plans in the U.S. The organization offers health insurance, including Medicaid, Health Insurance Marketplace and Medicare products. CareSource also recently expanded its national footprint and ability to serve more members with complex needs by acquiring The Columbus Organization, which partners with health care agencies and provider organizations in 12 states to support individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and behavioral health challenges through its staffing, quality improvement and care coordination services. Annual CareSource grants of $725,000 will support the work of select Easterseals Affiliates nationwide, the work of Easterseals’ national office, and the organization’s Project on Education and Community Health Equity, an initiative focused on addressing the educational and health care needs of children with disabilities, including children with disabilities of color, so they are kindergarten ready and can reach their full potential. At Easterseals Northeast Central Florida funding will support our growing Behavioral Supports services, a new program created in 2020 to address the increased number of families who struggle with barriers to receiving traditional ABA services, including those who don’t receive a diagnosis of autism, or do not have insurance. The FIT model can be a huge help to parents who are struggling with an immediate need for support and services, and a proactive way to improve functional behavior. For information about Behavioral Support Services at Easterseals, including ABA therapy and Consultative services, please contact Allison Berard, BCBA, Director of Behavior Support Services at 386-944-7801 or aberard@esnecfl.org. “CareSource is proud to support the unique and innovative work of Easterseals affiliates across the country to improve the lives of the people they serve and strengthen the communities around them,” said Erhardt Preitauer, CareSource president and chief executive officer and a member of the Easterseals national board of directors. “As mission-driven nonprofits, Easterseals and CareSource share a goal of empowering these local affiliates to provide exceptional services to meet the needs of millions living with disabilities as well as veterans, and seniors, all while improving health equity.” Another round of funding for Easterseals Affiliates’ programs and services will be announced in late 2023. # # # About Easterseals Northeast Central Florida Easterseals Northeast Central Florida offers life changing supports and services for over 6 ,000 local children annually, partnering with their parents and physicians to improve lifetime success. Children receive early intervention and developmental screening, early childhood education, autism diagnoses and functional assessment, pediatric specialty therapy interventions and family supports such as respite, wrap around care and adaptive technology focused on helping children reach their full potential in how they live, learn and play. We are dedicated to creating a community where every child with special needs in our community is 100% empowered with the services and supports they need to thrive. Learn more at www.eastersealsnecfl.org or follow Easterseals on Instagram at @eastersealsnecfl and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/esnecfl.org/ About Easterseals Easterseals is leading the way to full equity, inclusion, and access through life-changing disability and community services. For more than 100 years, we have worked tirelessly with our partners to enhance quality of life and expand local access to health care, education, and employment opportunities. And we won’t rest until every one of us is valued, respected, and accepted. Through our national network of Affiliates, Easterseals provides essential services and on-the-ground supports to more than 1.5 million people each year – from early childhood programs for the critical first five years, to autism services, medical rehabilitation and employment programs, veterans’ services, and more. Our public education, policy, and advocacy initiatives positively shape perceptions and address the urgent and evolving needs of the one in four Americans living with disabilities today. Together, we’re empowering people with disabilities, families, and communities to be full and equal participants in society. To learn more, visit www.easterseals.com.

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