Improving Caregiver Engagement in Early Interventions
Purpose
The goal of this study is to test the effectiveness of the FANS-EI program in supporting caregiver engagement in caregiver-mediated early interventions for young children with autism. This study also examines caregiver-perceived social support and self-efficacy and FANS-EI implementation outcomes (feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness).
Condition
- Autism
Eligibility
- Eligible Ages
- Over 12 Months
- Eligible Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Criteria
Providers' eligibility criteria
1. currently providing early intervention services, including a caregiver-coaching
component
2. having at least 1 child in the autism service classification on their caseload.
Caregiver/Child Dyads eligibility criteria
1. child is 12-60 months of age at the time of enrollment
2. child has a diagnosis or high likelihood of autism
3. a family/friend supporter of the caregiver is willing to be part of the study
4. caregivers and supporters speak English
Study Design
- Phase
- N/A
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel Assignment
- Primary Purpose
- Supportive Care
- Masking
- Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Arm Groups
| Arm | Description | Assigned Intervention |
|---|---|---|
|
Active Comparator Treatment as usual |
Families receive early intervention as usual |
|
|
Experimental FANS-EI |
FANS-EI supporters and caregivers will receive text messages from the research team three times a week. The messages to supporters mirror the caregiver messages and will include educational/motivational messages. Supporter will receive asynchronized general educational materials about autism (including characteristics of autism, understanding child's behaviors, etc.). Supporters will have the option, but will not be required, to attend EI sessions with the family if the family agrees. |
|
Recruiting Locations
Sacramento, California 95817
More Details
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- University of California, Davis
Study Contact
Detailed Description
Caregiver involvement in early intervention (EI) goal setting and intervention delivery aligns with Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guidelines. Active participation from caregivers significantly influences intervention adherence and ultimately affects child outcomes. When caregivers struggle with obtaining a diagnosis and early intervention services, low caregiver engagement can further exacerbate these challenges. In fact, the attrition rate for parent-mediated early interventions for autism ranges from 35% to 62%. Therefore, it is crucial to develop effective strategies for supporting caregiver engagement in autism early intervention. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of a social-support enhancement program, called Family/Friend Network Support for Early Intervention (FANS-EI), designed to improve caregiver engagement in community-based autism EI. This program has been adapted in collaboration with community partners from a text-based program that has successfully increased engagement and patient outcomes in diabetes treatment. Families of toddlers diagnosed with autism or a high likelihood of autism, will either receive EI as usual or FANS-EI plus EI. FANS-EI utilizes a strengths-based approach, leveraging existing family and friend support networks. Supporters, alongside caregivers, will receive information about autism or social communication development, along with text messages from the research team. These messages are designed to foster interactions between supporters and caregivers, providing emotional, informational, and educational support. The project will examine caregiver-perceived social support, self-efficacy, and implementation outcomes. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance caregiver engagement, maximizing the benefits of early interventions for both caregivers and their autistic children. This project would help further the knowledge of improving caregiver engagement in community-partnered research while addressing the persistent challenges in service utilization and child outcomes.