Appalachian State University affiliated practitioners at the Institute for Health and Human Services (IHHS) provide expert clinical care, particularly to the region’s underserved populations, through one or more of the affiliated clinics .

The primary mission of the Clinical Division is to facilitate well coordinated interdisciplinary clinical services and to provide undergraduate and graduate students with training and internship opportunities. The clinics also collaborate with other institutions in the region and with community partners in providing expert clinical care.

Examples of these collaborative efforts are the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Task Force and the Assessment, Support, and Counseling (ASC) Center at Watauga High School, both of which are designed to address major public health issues (autism, child and adolescent mental health) that affect this region in particular. The IHHS is well-positioned to respond to these issues by providing high quality evaluation, diagnostic services, treatment (e.g., speech-language therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy), consultation, advocacy, and varying levels of support for families who have been impacted by autism spectrum disorders or mental health concerns among young people.