Calling PerformCare from Essex County: what happens next

Step-by-step guide for Essex County families calling PerformCare to start ABA therapy for an autistic child in New Jersey.

Published August 30, 2026 · Essex County, New Jersey

You make the call to PerformCare

PerformCare is the single access point for the Children's System of Care in New Jersey for children age 3 and up. If your child is under 3, you call the New Jersey Early Intervention System instead. For a child 3 through 21, you call PerformCare. You do not need a diagnosis in hand to call, but you will be asked about your concerns. Have your child's name, date of birth, and your insurance information ready. If your child is covered by NJ FamilyCare (New Jersey's Medicaid and CHIP program), that is the most common path. If your child has private insurance, you can still call PerformCare, but the process may differ.

Step 1: The intake specialist takes your information

The person who answers is a trained intake specialist. They will ask for your child's basic information, your contact details, and a brief description of the behaviors or challenges you are seeing. They will also ask about any existing diagnoses, evaluations, or therapies. You do not need to have a formal autism diagnosis yet. If you do not have one, they will help you get an evaluation. The call usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. The specialist will create a record in the PerformCare system and assign a case number. Write that number down.

Step 2: You are assigned a care coordinator

Within a few days, a care coordinator will contact you. This person is your main point of contact. They work for PerformCare or a partner agency in Essex County. Ask for their name, direct phone number, and email. The care coordinator will schedule a face to face or phone meeting to complete a Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment. This is a standardized tool New Jersey uses to determine what services your child qualifies for. The care coordinator will ask about your child's daily life, communication, social skills, and any challenging behaviors. Be honest. There is no penalty for describing the hardest days.

Step 3: The CANS assessment is completed and scored

The CANS assessment produces a score that helps determine eligibility for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy under NJ FamilyCare. The care coordinator will explain the results to you. If the score indicates a need for behavioral health services, ABA will be listed as an option. The care coordinator will then discuss with you which providers are available in Essex County. There are 79 ABA providers registered in the county on the federal NPPES registry. Every town in Essex County has at least one provider within 7 miles, and 19 of the 22 municipalities have a provider in the town itself. Towns with the most providers include Newark (10 providers), Bloomfield (7), Livingston (7), East Orange (6), Maplewood (5), and West Orange (5).

Step 4: You choose a provider from the list

The care coordinator will give you a list of in network ABA providers who serve your area and accept your insurance plan. If your child is on NJ FamilyCare, the managed care plans include Horizon NJ Health, Wellpoint, Aetna Better Health of NJ, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. The provider must accept your specific plan. You can ask the care coordinator for help narrowing down the list. Some providers may have a waitlist. The care coordinator cannot guarantee a specific start date, but they can help you contact multiple providers to find an opening sooner.

Step 5: The provider conducts an intake and assessment

Once you select a provider, they will schedule an initial intake appointment. This is usually done at their clinic or in your home, depending on the provider. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) will meet with you and your child. They will conduct a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) and a skills assessment. This determines the specific goals for ABA therapy. The BCBA will write a treatment plan. That plan must be submitted to your insurance plan (the managed care organization) for authorization.

Step 6: Insurance authorizes the treatment plan

The provider's billing team submits the treatment plan to your managed care plan. The plan is reviewed for medical necessity. If approved, you will receive an authorization letter that states the number of hours per week and the duration of the authorization (often 3 to 6 months). If the plan is denied, you have the right to appeal. Your care coordinator can help you understand the denial reason and assist with the appeal process. The timeline for authorization varies. It is not possible to predict exactly how long it will take, but the provider and care coordinator will keep you updated.

Step 7: Therapy begins

Once authorization is in place, the provider schedules regular ABA sessions. These may be in home, in a clinic, in a school, or in a community setting. The BCBA will supervise the therapy, and registered behavior technicians (RBTs) will work directly with your child. You will receive regular progress reports and a review of the treatment plan before each re authorization period. The care coordinator remains available if you have questions or need to change providers.

What if your child is under 3?

If your child is under 3, you do not call PerformCare. You call the New Jersey Early Intervention System. They will assign a service coordinator and conduct an evaluation. If your child qualifies, ABA can be provided through Early Intervention until age 3. At age 3, the case transfers to PerformCare.

What if your child is over 21?

After age 21, the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) becomes the main system. Your care coordinator can help you start the DDD eligibility process before your child turns 21 to ensure a smooth transition.

A note on uncertainty

Every child's situation is different. Wait times for the CANS assessment, provider availability, and insurance authorization vary. No one can guarantee a specific number of weeks. Your best resource is your care coordinator. Ask them directly about expected timelines for your specific case. Keep a written log of every call, the name of the person you spoke with, and what was promised. This will help if you need to escalate a concern.