Overview
The Advocating Success for Kids Program (ASK) at Boston Children's Hospital works with children under the age of 14 who have learning, developmental, emotional, or behavioral problems at school or at home.
Our multidisciplinary team offers evaluations of developmental, learning, and/or behavioral difficulties, referral for services, and advocacy. We serve the Children's Hospital Primary Care Center and Primary Care at Martha Eliot.
The ASK Program at Boston Children's Hospital was created in 2000 to provide children with specialty care services. Children in the ASK Program typically have a diagnosis of autism, learning disabilities, ADHD, language delays, and/or intellectual disabilities. We work to improve their overall health, their ability to function in school, and their chance for a brighter future.
Our team assesses and screens children who are referred by their primary care providers for developmental issues. We meet parents and their child, discuss concerns, provide a treatment and follow-up plan, and refer them to any additional resources.
ASK serves over 500 children in the Boston area each year. Our multidisciplinary team of experts in developmental medicine, neurodevelopmental disabilities, social work, education, and psychology work together to:
- develop an understanding of your child and propose interventions that reduce barriers to success.
- coordinate treatment plans that involve your child's clinic, school, family, and community resources.
- help educate parents about child development, and working with school systems.
- empower families to become better advocates for their child’s needs.
- share specialty knowledge to schools to better serve children with unique learning, emotional, or developmental needs.
We would like to thank the following funding contributors for their continued support and partnership with the ASK Program:
- Digital Federal Credit Union
- Community Care Alliance
- Office of Child Advocacy at Boston Children's Hospital
- Boston Children's Hospital Primary Care Center
Meet Our Team
Read more about Jennifer Aites, MD
Attending Physician, Division of Developmental Medicine; Medical Director, Advocating Success for Kids Program
Instructor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Read more about Aanchal Sharma, MD, MPH
Attending Physician, Division of Developmental Medicine
Instructor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Read more about Molly B. Meyersohn, MSN, MSPH, RN, PPCNP-BC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Division of General Pediatrics
Read more about Tricia Coffey, MSW, LICSW
Clinical Social Worker, Advocating Success For Kids (ASK) Program
Read more about Alison Rosenberg, MSW, LICSW
Clinical Social Worker, Advocating Kids for Success (ASK)
Read more about Barbara Wiechert
Educational Specialist, Advocating Success For Kids Program
FAQ's
Our team members may include:
- a developmental-behavioral pediatrician
- a neurodevelopmental disabilities attending
- a nurse practitioner
- developmental-behavioral fellows and general pediatric fellows
- a social worker
- an educational specialist
- a psychologist
- volunteer student advocates
Your child must receive primary care at Boston Children's Hospital or the Martha Eliot Health Center to participate in ASK.
Talk to your child's primary care provider about being referred to ASK. If your primary care provider thinks that ASK is appropriate for your child, they will refer him/her to the ASK team.
Once a referral is made and approved, an appointment will be scheduled to meet with the ASK team. Appointments will take place within your primary care center.
At the first appointment, you and your child will meet with a member of the ASK team (i.e. developmental behavioral pediatrician, pediatric fellow, nurse practitioner, social worker, or psychologist). Both you, and your child, will talk about the problems your child is having.
This interview covers many different parts of your child's needs, including your child's developmental history, how they do in school, family stressors, medical concerns, and the way they interact with their peers in social settings.
Afterthis meeting, the ASK team will create a plan to help you and your family find the most appropriate resources to help your child. Outcomes of this meeting,and treatment plans,will be shared with your child's primary care provider.
Please bring:
- copies of any other evaluations your child has had, including school TEAM evaluations (CORE/IEP) and copies of your child's IEP (if appropriate)
- recent report cards and other reports from your child's teacher or school
- a list of questions you would like answered
- Studies have shown that children who receive help early and have more support in school have better academic success.
- Parents/caregivers who know their child's rights and understand the school system can better advocate for their children.
- Having outside support services in place for your child can often help them overcome obstacles that may be affecting their learning.
Project LAUNCH
Project LAUNCH is the preschool arm of the ASK program. Project LAUNCH promotes the social-emotional wellness of young children ages 0 to 6 through the use of individual/family play therapy or parental support.
Families with concerns of early childhood behavior can find flexible support to help navigate educational and mental health services for their young children. Through an initial assessment and identification of risk factors, the Project LAUNCH clinician, alongside the child’s family, establishes goals to improve parental skills and overall family wellness.
A family centered approach is used to work within the social, racial, and cultural identity of each family, to ensure that goals are set to be equitable, attainable, and possible. ASK team clinicians are available for assessment of significant developmental questions, if necessary.
Patient resources
- ABCD - Head Start (3 to 5 years old) provides low-income, pre-school children with experiences that help them relate with their middle-income schoolmates.
- Boston After School & Beyond is a public-private partnership that seeks to ensure that every child in Boston has the opportunity to develop to their full potential. Boston Beyond's role is to expand learning and skill development opportunities for students.
- BOSTONNavigator: Search thousands of programs that run before and after school, on weekends, and during the summer to find the program that is right for you.
- Boston Public Schools Family Resource Centers provide parents with school registration information and answers for other school-related questions.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston provides a safe, affordable place with caring adults and enriching programs for kids to go when they are not in school.
- Federation for Children with Special Needs provides information, support, and assistance to parents of children with disabilities, their professional partners, and their communities.
- Massachusetts Department of Education provides information on the state's education system and resources.
- Massachusetts Office on Disability is an advocacy agency that serves people with disabilities of all ages, including special education needs.
- Parent Stress Line (1-800-632-8188) offers parents and caregivers of children in Massachusetts an empathetic and supportive person to talk with about any parenting concern, big or small.
Make a gift
Many people ask what they can do to help the Advocating Success for Kids (ASK) Program. One important action you can take today is make a gift. Your donation helps children with developmental, learning, and/or behavioral difficulties get the help they need from our multidisciplinary team. Every gift, no matter the size, plays a vital role in raising healthy children. When you make a gift, you will receive a gift acknowledgement for tax purposes. Your gift is tax deductible to the extent provided by law. To make your gift online, visit this webpage.
For more information about giving, please contact:
Boston Children's Hospital Trust
1 Autumn Street, #731
Boston, MA 02215-5301
617-355-6890
Contact us
ASK Program
300 Longwood Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
617-355-4690