Telehealth parent coaching and provider training to improve care access for young children with autism

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

The program trains community providers in a supplemental Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention (NDBI) delivered by telehealth and offers brief parent coaching sessions. Providers in lead or supervising roles will be prepared to support caregivers, and enrolled families will complete about three 30-minute coaching sessions over 12 weeks plus pre- and post-intervention measures. Eligible children are ages 1–5 who are awaiting diagnosis or intervention and are not currently receiving intensive (≥10 hours/week) EIBI. The project also tests telehealth delivery models to reach geographically dispersed, highly mobile, or military-connected families.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Provider Inclusion Criteria:

* Providers to participate who are in "lead" or supervising roles (e.g., clinical supervisors, lead therapists, level II/level I EIDBI providers),
* Participating providers are encouraged to have a master's degree or higher, be level I, or serve as a level II provider with established experience (e.g.,supporting families who speak another language or be certified by a tribal government) however, this decision is up to the participating organization

Child/Caregiver Inclusion Criteria:

* Child between ages 1 to 5
* Waiting for either ASD diagnosis or intervention,
* At least one caregiver (approved by the parent) willing to participate
* Ability to complete approximately three, 30 min sessions over 12 weeks and to complete pre and post study measures
* Child may not be currently receiving intensive (10 or more hours a week) or early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI), but may be on a waitlist for these services, and can be enrolled in Early Childhood Special Education services Parts B and C, and auxiliary services such as speech, physical, and occupational therapy.

Child/Caregiver Exclusion Criteria:

* Children will be assessed through an eligibility screener to determine if they have challenging behavior that may be dangerous. Families will be assessed to determine eligibility through a screener, several of the questions will be aimed to identify challenging behavior severity, behaviors including topographies such as eye gouging and other forms of severe self-injury or aggression that cause significant or dangerous tissue damage (e.g., such as breaking the skin, drawing blood, open wounds that could be infected, or leaves a contusion, visits to an emergency room or hospitalization due to challenging behavior) to a child or others may be considered too severe to participate in the study.
* Families will also be asked if a participating caregiver is pregnant, if they indicate yes, they will still be eligible to participate with their child, but certain activities may be skipped if the child engages in challenging behavior, such as aggressive behavior.

Where it's running

• University of Minnesota
  Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Jessica Simacek, PhD — University of Minnesota
• Study coordinator: Jessica Simacek, PhD
• Email: sima0034@umn.edu
• Phone: 612-624-1450

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.