This project strengthens community capacity to screen for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and tests a culturally informed parent-mediated intervention for families in low-resource communities. In partnership with community agencies in the central Texas region, Dr. Vanegas will enhance the professional capacity for screening of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and implement and assess the efficacy of a parent education and coaching intervention.
The objectives of this project are:
- to assemble an advisory group comprised of community and parent leaders to inform the intervention development and implementation;
- to deliver a PMI program to families with young children at risk for ASD in low-resource communities;
- to improve developmental outcomes in young children at risk for ASD;
- to improve parenting practices among caregivers of children at risk for ASD.
Expected outcomes include:
- the ASPEN intervention will be culturally and linguistically-informed;
- the ASPEN intervention will be acceptable, feasible, and efficacious in low-resource communities;
- children at risk for ASD who participate in the intervention will exhibit significant gains in social communication and reduction in challenging behavior;
- caregivers who receive the intervention will exhibit significant gains in knowledge and skills related to their child’s development and report significant reductions in parenting stress.