Evaluating the Early Start Denver Model for young autistic children in community programs
Official title: Examining the Effectiveness of the Early Start Denver Model in Community Programs serving Young Autistic Children
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-10890197 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how well the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) helps young children with autism improve their social skills and communication when used in community programs, and it also wants to make sure that the people running these programs are trained to use it effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $948,063 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH131703-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10890197 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 11 years or who do not have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), a naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention, in community programs that serve young children with autism. The study aims to assess how ESDM can improve social communication and language outcomes by engaging children in social learning opportunities. By integrating strategies from applied behavior analysis and developmental science, the research will also evaluate the training model for community agencies to ensure proper implementation. Data collection methods will be employed to meet funding requirements and provide evidence of ESDM's effectiveness in real-world settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved social communication and learning outcomes for young autistic children in community settings.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success with similar naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions, indicating a promising approach for improving outcomes in young autistic children.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stahmer, Aubyn C. — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Stahmer, Aubyn C.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.