JBLM Center for Autism Resources, Education and Services (CARES)
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The JBLM Center for Autism Resources, Education and Services is a joint installation partnership between Madigan Army Medical Center and the JBLM Armed Forces Community Service that focuses on providing patient-centered care for military children with autism and their families. Our mission is to provide transitional services and support for children with autism and their families. JBLM CARES offers occupational and speech therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis, Exceptional Family Member Program systems navigation, and more. Our First Steps class educates families on resources, behavior, and the autism spectrum diagnosis. While the priority mission of JBLM CARES is to provide temporary autism support, treatment, and services for patients awaiting therapy from off-base community providers, some patients may be eligible for other services provided at CARES.
CARES accepts referrals for children and adolescents with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder who are enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select. If your primary care manager determines that autism-related services are required, they will need to place a referral for your child to be seen at CARES. This includes families PCSing to JBLM with an already-diagnosed autistic child. Referrals can be placed to speech, occupational, and/or ABA therapy and directed "TO JBLM CARES" in the comments. Your PCM will want to see a copy of your child's diagnosis and current treatment plan. If you have been seeing other providers within the Military Health System, your PCM will usually have access to that information in your child's electronic medical records. However, we recommend you bring a printed copy of those records to your child's first appointment with their PCM, especially if you have previously been seeing civilian providers for your child's autism care.
From the Madigan Army Medical Center Gate (Interstate 5, Exit 122), continue on Jackson Avenue through three traffic lights. Turn right at the fourth traffic light onto Transmission Line Road toward the Madigan Child Development Center. Turn right in to the parking lot and proceed to the end (curving left) until you reach JBLM CARES. From the Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Lewis Main Gate (Interstate 5, Exit 120), turn left at the first light onto Colorado Avenue. At the next traffic light, turn left onto Jackson Avenue. At the second traffic light on Jackson Avenue, turn left onto Transmission Line Road toward the Madigan Child Development Center. Turn right in to the parking lot and proceed to the end (curving left) until you reach JBLM CARES.
Building 6993, Jackson Ave. Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA 98431