Mind the Gap Intervention for Autism
(MTG Trial)

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

+3 other locations

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?The AIRB research team will compare the use and effectiveness of each intervention (Mind the Gap, Remaking Recess and Self Determination Learning Model of Instruction) with and without the addition of an implementation strategy, UNITED. In all groups, the research team will train community practitioners using remote delivery of professional development modules specific to the intervention, and active coaching for up to 12 sessions as dictated by the intervention procedures during a time span of 6 months. The research team will pair UNITED with three interventions that cover the ages of early childhood, childhood, and adolescence. These include Mind the Gap (MTG), a family navigation intervention for children newly diagnosed under age 8, Remaking Recess (RR), a school-based social/peer engagement intervention for children ages 5-12, and Self-Determination Learning Model of Instruction (SDMLI), a self-advocacy intervention for adolescents (13-22 years; 22 is the upper age limit of high school for individuals with disabilities). For MTG, peer navigators (staff working in an organization that already works with parents) and parents (with children with ASD) will meet via phone or video conference for up to 12 sessions within a 6 month span (an hour each time). They will go over sessions that were created by the research group that help parents understand the system of acquiring services. The total time commitment for peer navigators is about 18 hours and for parents with children with ASD is about 8.5 hours. Identified families connected to the community organization will be matched with one peer navigator who will then guide and support the caregiver through completion of the MTG modules with active coaching of the family. Family needs and preferences will guide topic selection. Active coaching will occur via zoom, or over the phone, based on family preference and some recorded sessions will be shared with the research group for analyses. Mind the Gap will be available in English, Spanish, and Korean.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for families with children aged 2 to 8 diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDD), who haven't started ASD-specific services outside of school. Participants must speak English, Korean, or Spanish and have a family income below 250% of the federal poverty level. Peer navigators from community organizations serving children with ASD/NDD are also eligible.

Inclusion Criteria

My child, aged 2-8, has ASD or NDD, hasn't received ASD-specific services outside school, and our family income is below 250% of the federal poverty level. We speak English, Korean, or Spanish.

Agency staff (coordinators, directors, managers, supervisors) working on community organizations with peer navigator capacity

Peer navigators working at participating community organizations with peer navigator capacity

Exclusion Criteria

I do not work in an organization with a peer navigator role and cannot meet the study's requirements.

Peer Navigators: people not working in an organization that has a peer navigator capacity, cannot commit to the times and requirements of the study

Families with children under the age of 2 or over 8 years of age, does not have ASD or NDD, parents are not fluent in English, Spanish, or Korean, child already receiving services accessed with an ASD diagnosis, family income is over 250% federal guidelines for poverty rate

Participant Groups

The 'Mind the Gap' intervention is being tested, which involves peer navigators helping parents understand how to access services for their child with ASD/NDD through up to 12 sessions over six months via phone or video conference. The effectiveness of additional implementation strategies will also be evaluated.

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: UNITEDExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

UNITED is premised on the idea that successful implementation in organizations like schools and early intervention systems requires a team-based approach, in which the team is thoughtfully assembled, develops a plan for implementation, assigns roles and responsibilities, and carefully tracks and supports implementation and sustainment in all its stages within a few meetings and ongoing coaching from the research staff.

Group II: Implementation as Usual (IAU)Active Control1 Intervention

The organizations will implement Mind the Gap as usual. The research team will be available to provide support on the Mind the Gap intervention as needed.