Program to empower families of children newly diagnosed with autism
Autism Family Empowerment Coaching and Training Program (AFECT): Evaluating a Parent Coaching and Family Navigation Program for New Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis
This study is testing a program that helps parents of young children recently diagnosed with autism by providing coaching and support to see if it can reduce their stress and improve their access to services.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 120 (estimated) |
| Ages | 12 Months to 60 Months |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Stanford University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Atherton, California and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT05910502 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This clinical trial focuses on the Project AFECT program, which combines parent coaching and family navigation to support families after their child's autism diagnosis. Parents of children aged 1 to 5 years, who are Hispanic/Latino, Black/African-American, or have Medi-Cal insurance, will receive coaching to understand autism and access necessary treatments. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention in reducing parental stress and increasing confidence, as well as improving access to early intervention services for children. Participants will be compared to a control group receiving standard care.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are parents of children aged 1 to 5 years recently diagnosed with autism, who are Hispanic/Latino, Black/African-American, or have Medi-Cal insurance.
Not a fit: Parents who are non-legal guardians or foster parents, or those whose children do not have a diagnosis of autism, will not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly reduce parental stress and improve access to autism services for families.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success with similar parent coaching and navigation approaches, indicating potential for positive outcomes.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Parents of children just diagnosed with autism (with or without other diagnoses) who are: 1. Age greater than 1 and up to 5 years old; 2. Hispanic/Latino OR Black/African-American OR have Medi-Cal as primary health insurance; AND 3. Live in one of the following counties in California (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, or Sonoma). Exclusion Criteria: * Non-legal guardians or foster parents who provide care to children newly diagnosed with autism. * Parents of children without diagnosis of autism.
Where this trial is running
Atherton, California and 1 other locations
- Gardner Packard Children's Health Center — Atherton, California, United States (Recruiting)
- Stanford Medicine Children's Health — Sunnyvale, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Heidi Feldman, MD, PhD — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Ingrid Lin, MD
- Email: ingridyl@stanford.edu
- Phone: 650-725-0555
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.