Hunterdon Regional Autism Center Staff Speaks To Governor Christie at Awareness Event

Pictured with Governor Chris Christie are (Left to right) Jean Hewens, LCSW, Clinical Coordinator,  Hunterdon Regional Autism Center, Audrey Mars, M.D., Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician at Hunterdon Medical Center and Jadyn Waiser of Bridgewater.  Jadyn was diagnosed with Autism at age 2 by Dr. Mars, she is now six.

Published April 2, 2010

To kick off Autism Awareness Month, Governor Christie visited Child's Play Therapeutics in Warren and met with parents, kids and medical professionals.   The Governor said, “Unfortunately, New Jersey is the number 1 state in the union with children diagnosed with autism (1 in every 94)… and we need to take a new approach to helping these children. I really think we have to start to meld both our educational opportunities with the medical and health-related issues that are intertwined for these children and their families." Funding for autism was not cut from the recently released state budget. 

Hunterdon Medical Center recognizes the growing number of cases of autism in the state of New Jersey and has established the Hunterdon Regional Autism Center with funding from the New Jersey Governor’s Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Autism, Special Child Health and Early Intervention Services, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. “The key focus of the Hunterdon Regional Autism Center is to improve the quality of life of individuals with autism spectrum disorders in Hunterdon, Warren, Somerset and Mercer counties,” stated Audrey Mars, M.D., Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician at Hunterdon Medical Center who has also been regarded as an expert in the treatment of Autism.  Dr. Mars further explained, “The center provides increased access to multidisciplinary assessment and treatment programs, behavioral and pharmacological treatment programs that target core and associated symptoms of autism, while providing the intense monitoring and follow-up necessary for optimal therapeutic effect.”  The center also provides community based services through training and collaboration with primary care physicians, pediatricians, pediatric residents and local school districts.

For more information call Hunterdon Regional Autism Center at 908-788-6396.