DANVILLE -- In just six years, the number of local children with autism receiving treatment for their behavior and learning struggles has nearly increased eightfold.

As the Children's Service Center of Wyoming Valley, based in Wilkes-Barre, works to meet the growing need for its specialty services, a new office in Danville will enable the local staff of nine trained professionals to better help the 14 clients they will be working with this coming school year.

The need for autism services has grown since the local program was launched six years ago, according to Roxanne Stoker, a behavior specialist consultant with the Children's Service Center, who said as more children are identified with autism the need for local services increase.

Autism is a development disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication, restricted and repetitive behavior, all exhibited before the child is three years old. An estimated one in 150 children has an autistic spectrum disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"When we started, we had two clients," Stoker said. "Now, we have 12 clients and two who are currently going through our in-take process. The need is definitely there, and there is a growing interest from the community and schools for more services."

Stoker said the agency receives referrals from a variety of health professionals, including Geisinger's pediatric neurology development department. Referrals are also made by school districts, day care centers and early intervention providers.

"We have even had referrals from speech therapists," said Stoker, who added the services are provided through the client's state medical assistance. "We cover Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties. We stay pretty busy."

Localized staff training, family consulting and community awareness programs will be among the benefits of having an office in Danville, according to Stoker. The local group previously trained in Wilkes-Barre and met with each other at various local places before the new office recently opened, Stoker said.

The office currently features two full-time behavior specialist consultants (BSC), six full-time therapeutic staff support counselors (TSS) and a part-time TSS. The TSS provides the one-on-one intervention with the client in the school and in the community, specifically at home, according to Stoker.

The local program had just one part-time BSC and two full-time TSS counselors when it began, Stoker said.

"Evaluations for our services are done in the home or at school, where we review the child's progress and discuss their continued needs," said Steve Jacks, a BSC working in Danville. "The evaluations are done either on a four-month, six-month or yearly schedule.

"The advantage of having the office is we now have a physical structure to base our services out of. We have a more permanent feel, because before we were seen as a satellite of the agency."

Jacks said having an official office will enable the local program to flourish in the community, possibly expanding its services on a broader scope.

"Among the community initiatives we would like to do would be to train local leaders, such as police officers, on how to work with children with special needs, specifically autism," Jacks said. "There may be communication barriers they're not apt in handling. We could also offer training for families.

"Above all, we would really like to spread awareness of the dynamics of autism."