Center for Autism Assessment & Research Services

The Center for Autism and Assessment Research Services (CAARS) is a specialty clinic dedicated to offering evidence-based assessment and supportive services to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families. Student clinicians working in the CAARS program have received intensive training in autism assessment and in recent changes to the Autism Spectrum Disorder criteria set forth by the DSM-5. 

PEERS® Program: Social Skills Group for Young Children (Ages 4–7)

Now recruiting. Group runs October 20 – December 15, 2026.

CAARS is offering a social skills group using PEERS® for Preschoolers, a parent-assisted, evidence-based intervention for young children with autism or other neurodevelopmental delays who have difficulty making or keeping friends. Children and their parent or social coach attend weekly sessions, held at the same time, over 9 weeks.

Details

• Priority registration deadline: October 1, 2026
• Dates: October 20 – December 15, 2026
• Time: Tuesdays, 4:00–5:30 PM
• Format: Child and parent sessions run at the same time

Space is limited. If you are interested, please contact us as soon as possible.

📞 (908) 737-5890
📧 caars@kean.edu

If no one answers, please leave a message with your name, phone number, and reason for calling. We check voicemail regularly and will return your call promptly.

The Center for Autism Assessment and Research Services (CAARS) at Kean University is now accepting names for its Adult Autism Assessment waitlist.

This semester, we will conduct a number of adult evaluations as part of a research study on best practices for high-quality autism assessment in adults. Spaces are limited.

To join the waitlist or learn more, contact us as soon as possible:
📧 caars@kean.edu
📞 (908) 737-5890

If no one is available, please leave a clear message with your name, phone number, and reason for calling. Clinic voicemail messages are checked regularly, and a staff member will return your call promptly.

CAARS is proud to offer comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and intervention/counseling services for children, adolescents, and adults. We offer our services for free to make them accessible for all families within the community. 

• Opportunities to participate in research will also be available. 

Services Include:

Comprehensive Diagnostic Assessment/Evaluation Services

• Our evaluation consists of state-of-the-art diagnostic tools including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, second edition (ADOS-2), as well as assessment of intellectual and adaptive functioning.

Intervention and Research Services

• PEERS social skills groups 
• Individual counseling and behavioral intervention 
• Parent coaching and support

The Center for Autism Assessment and Research Services (CAARS) seeks to help prepare doctoral students in clinical and school psychology to become psychologists and to provide needed behavioral health services to the community free-of-charge. We are proud to provide no-fee services through our state-of-the-art community training clinic. Our clinicians are graduate students in Kean University's Psy.D. Program in Combined School and Clinical Psychology, who represent diverse backgrounds in terms of age, sex, gender identity, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religious and spiritual background, and socioeconomic status, and seek to serve individuals from all walks of life. All clinicians are closely supervised by licensed psychologists, who are core faculty members within the APA-Accredited doctoral program or practicing and credentialed psychologists working within the surrounding community. 

For further information or to enroll for assessment or supportive services, please contact Kean Psychological Services at 908-737-5890. 

* CAARS is supported in part by funds generously donated by the Slass Family.

As a University-based training clinic, we are proud to provide services to the community without charge. However, please be advised that our services may not be the right fit for everyone, as we may not have the appropriate staffing level or be able to provide the level of care or type of services needed for particular clients or families. We reserve the right to accept or not accept any client for services, but will always strive to provide appropriate referrals. 

• Please be advised that all services are provided through our clinic as part of our doctoral training program in professional psychology. Thus, all sessions are video and audio recorded for clinical training and research purposes.

A note regarding E-mail and Electronic Communication. Due to personal privacy concerns we do not regularly communicate with individuals over email. Please call. If no one is available to answer, leave a message. The clinic voicemail is checked regularly.