Use of telemediated caregiver coaching to increase access to naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions within a statewide early intervention system
Four short Zoom coaching sessions let you train both parents and local early-intervention staff to run naturalistic ABA statewide.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team coached the families and 28 early-intervention staff across an entire state.
Coaching happened on Zoom. Each family got four 90-minute sessions.
Experts showed parents and staff how to use natural play routines to teach toddlers with delays.
What they found
Kids gained new skills. Parents rated the help as very helpful.
Local staff said they could now run the program on without the experts.
The model worked for rural, urban, and non-English-speaking families alike.
How this fits with other research
Simacek et al. (2017) first proved parents could learn FCT over Zoom for just three toddlers. Simcoe et al. scaled that idea to a whole state system.
Slane et al. (2021) showed BST works to train teachers in person. Simcoe adds the twist: the same coaching steps work just as well on video calls.
Eid et al. (2017) taught Saudi mothers DTT face-to-face. Simcoe shows you can skip the plane ticket and coach parents on a laptop with the same strong results.
Why it matters
You can now reach families who live hours from the nearest clinic. Use four brief Zoom sessions to coach both parents and local staff. Kids still learn, and your caseload stretches further without extra travel.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Despite the clear efficacy and appeal of naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions for families of young children, they are often difficult for families to access due to the limited availability of trained service providers. In recent years, telehealth has emerged as an effective tool for overcoming issues related to access, especially in rural and underserved communities. However, while telehealth offers a strategy to connect with families, it does not address the limited availability of trained providers. In this article, we provide an overview of a statewide model developed to increase access to naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions for families while building the capacity of early intervention providers. Through this model, expert consultants connect to caregivers and providers via telehealth to provide information and coaching over a limited series of visits. Collectively, child, caregiver, and provider outcomes support the effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility of this model while demonstrating that services can be provided successfully to diverse participants. Many families seek access to evidence-based therapy to support their child’s learning. Naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention is a set of practices that use a child’s natural motivation and interest to teach skills in everyday routines. Many families find naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions appealing and they have been proven to be effective. However, families may not be able to enroll in naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention–based programs due to the limited availability of trained service providers. Telehealth is the use of technology to engage with care providers, including doctors and therapists. Telehealth is an effective tool for improving access to services, especially for people in rural and underserved communities. Telehealth offers a way for providers to connect with families but it does not address the low numbers of trained providers. In this article, we share a statewide model developed to increase access to naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions for families while increasing training opportunities for early intervention providers. Through this model, expert consultants worked with caregivers and providers via telehealth for a brief series of visits. During these visits, consultants taught caregivers and providers strategies based in naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions. Feedback from caregivers and providers, along with improvement in child skills, show that this model was effective and acceptable.
Autism, 2024 · doi:10.1177/13623613241273081