Helping Latino caregivers get the most from early autism services
Characterizing Latino Caregiver Engagement in Early Intervention Services for Autism
This project works with Latino families of very young children with autism to strengthen caregiver involvement and improve the quality of early intervention services.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California State University Long Beach NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Long Beach, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11163559 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a Latino parent of a child under age 3, I would be asked about my experiences, beliefs, and day-to-day involvement with early intervention. The team will look at both attitudinal items (for example, what I expect from treatment) and behavioral items (like attendance and in-session participation) to understand engagement. They will work with families and local early intervention programs to identify barriers and supports that affect how caregivers are involved. The goal is to use what they learn to help programs deliver better, more family-centered care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Caregivers of Latino children under about 3 years old who are receiving or eligible for early intervention services—especially families connected to programs in the Long Beach/California area—are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Families without a child under age 3, those not involved in early intervention, or families outside the study area may not receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help Latino families get higher-quality early autism services and improve developmental outcomes for young children.
How similar studies have performed: Previous efforts have helped Latino families access early services, but targeting caregiver engagement to improve service quality is less tested and this work is building on that gap.
Where this research is happening
Long Beach, United States
- California State University Long Beach — Long Beach, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Caplan, Barbara J — California State University Long Beach
- Study coordinator: Caplan, Barbara J
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 below.