Adapting an advocacy services intervention for Latinx families of transition-aged youth with autism spectrum disorder

当患有自闭症谱系障碍(ASD)的青少年从学校过渡到成人服务机构时，他们会从 “服务悬崖。”为了增加获得服务的机会，伯克博士(PI)和泰勒博士(顾问)开发了辅助工具 该计划教父母如何代表患有自闭症的青少年倡导成人服务。在试行中 随机对照试验(RCT：R34 MH104428)，治疗组(与对照组)参与者演示 显著提高成人服务、宣传和赋权方面的知识。治疗的儿子/女儿 小组参与者增加了获得服务的机会。对于宣传服务干预措施，如Assistate To Be 公平地说，他们需要接触到服务差距风险最大的家庭。患有自闭症的拉丁裔青年是 就是这样一个服务不足的人群。与白人青年相比，患有自闭症的拉丁裔青年收到的明显更少 高等教育、卫生和就业服务，面临着更糟糕的毕业后结果。此外 除了阻碍所有家庭获得服务的障碍之外，拉美裔家庭在服务方面面临着独特的障碍 获得机会(如语言、文化差异、公民身份、歧视)使他们成为被边缘化的人 人口。在这个项目中，我们正在调整为拉丁裔家长提供的辅助课程和相关措施 患有自闭症的过渡年龄青年。具体地说，我们将利用辅助数据和来自Latinx、非辅助的数据 家长应告知对辅助课程的调整。我们还将进行预测试和跨文化 适应进程，以修订针对拉丁裔家庭的援助措施。我们将测试改编后的助攻 课程采用随机对照试验，以确定其可行性、可接受性和有效性 干预目标(知识、宣传和赋权)和利益结果(服务获取)。这 通过检查从青春期到成年期的服务(PA-21-199)，项目与NIMH的优先事项保持一致 通过调整一项计划，为服务不足的人群改善精神健康服务NIMH 2020战略 计划)。它还对机构间自闭症协调委员会的核心价值“公平”作出回应，以减少 在文化背景方面的差异。此外，如果成功，这将是第一次直接干预 解决患有自闭症的拉丁裔家庭过渡到成年的服务差距问题。

When youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) transition from school to adult services, they fall off a “service cliff.” To increase access to services, Drs. Burke (PI) and Taylor (Consultant) developed the ASSIST program, which teaches parents how to advocate for adult services on behalf of their youth with ASD. In a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT: R34 MH104428), treatment group (versus control) participants demonstrated significantly improved knowledge of adult services, advocacy, and empowerment. Sons/daughters of treatment group participants had increased access to services. For advocacy services interventions like ASSIST to be equitable, they need to reach families who are at greatest risk for service disparities. Latinx youth with ASD are one such underserved population. Relative to White youth, Latinx youth with ASD receive significantly fewer post-secondary education, health, and employment services and face worse post-school outcomes. In addition to the barriers which hinder service access for all families, Latinx families face unique barriers to service access (e.g., language, cultural differences, citizenship, discrimination) making them a marginalized population. In this project, we are adapting the ASSIST curriculum and related measures for Latinx parents of transition-aged youth with ASD. Specifically, we will leverage ASSIST data and data from Latinx, non-ASSIST parents to inform adaptations to the ASSIST curriculum. We will also conduct pre-testing and a cross-cultural adaptation process to revise the ASSIST measures for Latinx families. We will test the adapted ASSIST curriculum with a randomized controlled trial to determine its feasibility, acceptability and efficacy on intervention targets (knowledge, advocacy, and empowerment) and outcome of interest (service access). This project is aligned with NIMH priorities by examining services from adolescence to adulthood (PA-21-199) and by adapting a program to improve mental health services for underserved populations NIMH 2020 Strategic plan). It is also responsive to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee core value of “equity” in reducing disparities with respect to cultural backgrounds. Further, if successful, it will be the first intervention to directly address service disparities for Latinx families of youth with ASD who are transitioning to adulthood.