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Training Community Mental Health Therapists to Deliver a Package of Evidence-Based Practice Strategies for School-Age Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Pilot Study

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Abstract

Research on moving evidence-based practice (EBP) intervention strategies to community service settings for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is urgently needed. The current pilot study addresses this need by examining the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary outcomes of training therapists practicing in community mental health (CMH) clinics to deliver a package of EBP strategies aimed to reduce challenging behaviors in school-age children with ASD. Results indicate that CMH therapists participated in both initial and ongoing training, were able to deliver the intervention with fidelity, and perceived the intervention strategies as useful. Parents participated in almost all sessions with their children and remained in therapy when therapists delivered the intervention. Meaningful reductions in child problem behaviors occurred over 5 months providing promising support for the intervention.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by K23MH077584. Additionally, Dr. Brookman-Frazee is an investigator with the Implementation Research Institute (IRI), at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis; through an award from the National Institute of Mental Health (R25 MH080916-01A2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA

    Lauren I. Brookman-Frazee, Amy Drahota & Nicole Stadnick

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA

    Lauren I. Brookman-Frazee & Amy Drahota

  3. Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, CA, USA

    Nicole Stadnick

Authors
  1. Lauren I. Brookman-Frazee
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  2. Amy Drahota
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  3. Nicole Stadnick
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Correspondence to Lauren I. Brookman-Frazee.

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Brookman-Frazee, L.I., Drahota, A. & Stadnick, N. Training Community Mental Health Therapists to Deliver a Package of Evidence-Based Practice Strategies for School-Age Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Pilot Study. J Autism Dev Disord 42, 1651–1661 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1406-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1406-7

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