Evaluating the Early Start Denver Model for young autistic children in community programs

Examining the Effectiveness of the Early Start Denver Model in Community Programs serving Young Autistic Children

NIH-funded research University of California at Davis · NIH-10890197

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California at Davis NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Davis, United States)
Project IDNIH-10890197 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Not a fit: Patients who are older than 11 years or who do not have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder may not benefit from this research.

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 performed: 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

Davis, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Autistic Disorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.