APIC-Access to Psychiatry Through Intermediate Care

APIC-Access to Psychiatry Through Intermediate Care APIC is community-based psychiatrist-directed team that provides hospital diversion services to indi

APIC is a grant funded program created by the University at Buffalo Department of Psychiatry that provides an intermediate level of care created through a community-based, psychiatrist-directed Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) Diversion Team partnered with existing local agencies. APIC serves children, adolescents, and young adults with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, and traumatic brain injury, with or without accompanying mental illness. We provide several unique services including intermediate level care coordination, medication management, dually diagnosed wraparound services, and access to mobile psychiatric care. While APIC makes every effort to support the families of all referrals, it is primarily focused on meeting the needs of individuals who can not be served in traditional mental health settings and who would likely require hospitalization or residential placement in the absence of our services.

Complex cases rarely require just one kind of expertise.The strongest care teams bring together professionals with diffe...
09/14/2026

Complex cases rarely require just one kind of expertise.

The strongest care teams bring together professionals with different perspectives and clearly defined roles, all working toward an agreed-upon goal for the individual.

And collaboration doesn’t end once the plan is created. When needs change, progress shifts, or a goal is no longer appropriate, the team comes back together to reassess what happens next.

For APIC, partnership means bringing the right clinical expertise to the table when it’s needed, and working alongside the people and organizations who know the individual best.

That collaborative approach has been an important part of our work throughout APIC’s history, and it continues to shape how we support our partners today.

What we see on the outside is only one piece of the clinical picture.Effective care requires looking beyond a behavior o...
09/10/2026

What we see on the outside is only one piece of the clinical picture.

Effective care requires looking beyond a behavior or symptom to understand the biological, psychological, and social factors that may be contributing to what an individual is experiencing.

What has changed? What barriers are present? What does the family observe? What are the individual's needs and goals?

At APIC, a biopsychosocial approach helps inform treatment plans that reflect the whole person—not simply the behavior that brought them into the room.

Because before deciding what to do, it matters that we understand what's really going on.

As we reflect during APIC’s anniversary month, we’re also thinking about how much the landscape of autism care has chang...
09/08/2026

As we reflect during APIC’s anniversary month, we’re also thinking about how much the landscape of autism care has changed.

Over the years, we’ve seen greater awareness and acceptance, along with increased recognition and diagnosis of autism. Those changes matter. They create opportunities for individuals and families to be understood earlier, access appropriate support, and find providers who recognize that autism doesn’t look the same in every person.

There is still important work ahead—but experience gives us the opportunity to appreciate how far the field has come while continuing to ask how we can make care better.

That’s a perspective worth carrying into the next chapter.

September marks another anniversary for APIC—and another opportunity to reflect on why this work matters.Over the years,...
09/03/2026

September marks another anniversary for APIC—and another opportunity to reflect on why this work matters.

Over the years, APIC's work has grown through relationships with families, clinicians, first responders, and partner organizations across New York State. But the goal has remained remarkably consistent: understand the individual, bring the right expertise to the table, and help create better paths forward for people with autism and complex needs.

Throughout our anniversary month, we'll be sharing a little more about the principles, partnerships, and experiences that continue to shape the way we approach care.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of that journey.

Anxiety and repetitive behaviors are common among individuals with autism—but their presence doesn't automatically mean ...
09/01/2026

Anxiety and repetitive behaviors are common among individuals with autism—but their presence doesn't automatically mean there is a separate anxiety disorder or OCD diagnosis.

Understanding why a behavior is occurring matters.

Careful diagnostic clarification can help clinicians identify the appropriate treatment targets and avoid adding interventions or medications that may not address the individual's actual needs.

It's another reason individualized assessment is so important: similar behaviors don't always tell the same clinical story.

More isn’t always better.More appointments. More interventions. More medications. More services.Good care isn’t measured...
08/27/2026

More isn’t always better.

More appointments. More interventions. More medications. More services.

Good care isn’t measured by how much we add. It’s measured by whether the support being provided is appropriate for the individual and helping move them toward meaningful goals.

Sometimes progress means adding something new.

Sometimes it means adjusting what’s already there.

And sometimes it means recognizing that something is no longer serving the person at all.

At APIC, we believe thoughtful care means continually asking not just, “What else can we do?” but also, “Is what we’re doing helping?”

Families with complex care needs rarely interact with just one system.Healthcare. Behavioral health. Schools. Community ...
08/25/2026

Families with complex care needs rarely interact with just one system.

Healthcare. Behavioral health. Schools. Community services. State programs. Each may play an important role, but when those systems operate independently, families can be left trying to connect the pieces themselves.

That’s where strong partnerships matter.

At APIC, much of our work happens alongside the organizations already supporting individuals and families, bringing clinical expertise to the table, helping teams work through complex cases, and filling gaps when additional perspective or support is needed.

Because better collaboration doesn’t just strengthen systems.

It makes those systems easier for families to navigate.

A new school year often means new people getting to know your child.Beyond diagnoses, medications, and accommodations, c...
08/20/2026

A new school year often means new people getting to know your child.

Beyond diagnoses, medications, and accommodations, consider sharing the things that help someone understand who your child is:

• How do they communicate when they're comfortable?

• What are some of their strengths and interests?

• What might indicate they're becoming overwhelmed?

• What helps them feel safe or regulated?

• What approaches tend to make a difficult moment harder?

• What does a really GOOD day look like for them?

The information that doesn't always fit neatly into a chart or plan can sometimes be exactly what a new teacher, nurse, aide, or provider needs to build connection and support success.

Here's to a school year that begins with understanding the individual—not just the paperwork.

Sometimes the most important opportunity to provide support happens before a behavioral response.Changes like increased ...
08/18/2026

Sometimes the most important opportunity to provide support happens before a behavioral response.

Changes like increased fidgeting, covering the ears or face, heavier breathing, bouncing or shaking the feet, or beginning to withdraw can be signs that an individual is becoming overwhelmed.

Learning an individual's early signals gives families and care teams an opportunity to respond proactively; adjusting the environment, offering space, or providing support before stress continues to build.

The signs won't look the same for everyone. That's why knowing the individual matters.

A patient's history is important. But it shouldn't be the only thing shaping what happens next.One challenge APIC's clin...
08/13/2026

A patient's history is important. But it shouldn't be the only thing shaping what happens next.

One challenge APIC's clinical team sees is the tendency to accept historical documentation without stepping back to reassess the individual in front of us.

Effective case conceptualization draws from multiple sources: existing records, patient observation and interaction, family perspective, clinical expertise, and, when appropriate, input from a multidisciplinary team.

Because circumstances change. Needs change. And sometimes, a fresh clinical perspective changes the path forward.

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928 French Road , Bldg. 1
Cheektowaga, NY
14227

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