Support program for parents of young children diagnosed with autism
Official title: Test of an Innovative, Scalable Support Program for Parents with a Young Child Recently Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Funded at Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-10795645 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new program called Autism Parent Navigators, which offers friendly support to parents of young kids recently diagnosed with autism, helping them find their way through challenges and services to create a better home environment for their children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project start | June 17, 2020 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $667,496 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD099295-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10795645 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are parents of young children (ages 0-11) who have recently received a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Parents of children who are not diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder or those whose children are older than 11 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new support program called Autism Parent Navigators (APN) designed to help parents of young children recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The program utilizes trained parent peer mentors to provide in-home support, helping families navigate the challenges of ASD and access necessary services. By focusing on improving the family environment and parental well-being, the program aims to enhance behavioral adjustment in children with ASD. The approach has been developed based on extensive pilot work that demonstrated its feasibility and acceptability.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the mental health and family dynamics of parents, leading to better outcomes for children with autism.
How similar studies have gone: Previous pilot studies have shown promising results for similar peer support models in improving parental adjustment and child behavior outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State University, the
University Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Feinberg, Mark Ethan — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Feinberg, Mark Ethan
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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.