Social work, analytics, and public health in autism: A conceptual approach to enhancing community health outcomes in U.S. underserved areas

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents unique challenges for individuals, families, and communities, particularly in underserved areas of the United States where disparities in access to services are pronounced. This paper explores the integration of social work, analytics, and public health as a conceptual framework to enhance community health outcomes for individuals with ASD. Social work offers critical advocacy, resource navigation, and family support, while analytics provides data-driven insights for identifying service gaps and optimizing interventions. Public health contributes community-level strategies, policy development, and preventive measures. The paper proposes collaborative strategies to address systemic inequities by synthesizing these disciplines, including targeted data utilization, technology integration, and culturally sensitive approaches. Policy recommendations, resource allocation priorities, and training initiatives are discussed, alongside future directions for research and practice. This multidisciplinary approach aims to create equitable and sustainable solutions, reducing health disparities and improving outcomes for individuals with ASD in underserved communities.