A press conference will be at 3:00p.m. Wednesday, May 27, at the Camille Butchikas ECAP Clinic (first floor Technology building at FSU Panama City), to announce the George A. Butchikas Autism Foundation’s contribution to support the FSU Early Childhood Autism Program (ECAP) at Florida State University Panama City. This year’s gift will be added to an impressive total of $425,000 that the Butchikas Autism Foundation has provided to ECAP since 2001.

The partnership between the Butchikas Autism Foundation, the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program and ECAP began in 2001 soon after the programs were first established at FSU Panama City.To date, the Butchikas Foundation has given $425,000 to ECAP, supporting Bay County families affected by autism. 

ECAP provides ABA therapy services to children with autism through the specialized training graduate students receive in the Master’s of Psychology degree with emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis at FSU Panama City.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 150 children were diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in 2000. Now, that number is 1 in 68. Based on Bay County’s most recent estimate of children under the age of 18, about 550 local children could be diagnosed with an ASD, making this a very real issue that local families may face.

“While these numbers appear alarming, there is hope for families,” said Amy Polick, Ph.D, BCBA-D, director of ECAP.

Since opening its doors, the Camille Butchikas ECAP Clinic at FSU Panama City has been extremely sought after, and the clinic plans to renovate to better serve the growing need for ABA services in Bay County. An expansion plan includes soundproof individual therapy rooms, an indoor playground and a meeting space for the therapists and families. The Bay Health Foundation recently gave $30,000 to establish a parent resource center as part of this expansion but additional funding is needed to complete the $100,000 project.

“We are incredibly excited to open our parent resource center later this year, but we still have needs,” Polick said. “With additional community support, we can dramatically improve our services and outreach for families affected by autism in Bay County.”

For additional information about the Butchikas Autism Foundation, contact Carolyn Butchikas, Foundation Director, at 850.258-3588.  For additional information about ECAP, contact, Amy Polick, Ph.D. at (850) 770-2252.