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Mind the Gap: Increasing access to care through parent engagement
Background
Race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status have been associated with a delay in the diagnosis of ASD and access to services.
Study
This study aims to address the critical need to increase access to care for under-resourced children with ASD and their families. We have conducted several focus groups and interviews with parents of low-income, minority children with ASD across different sites (UCLA, UC Davis, U Penn, and U Rochester) in order to better understand challenges, barriers, and needs in the community. These data will be incorporated into an intervention to help families initiate services, increase engagement and advocate for their child. Using a Community Partnered Participatory Research (CPPR) model, we have build partnerships with service providers and agencies in the community. We have worked together to tailor services that address family needs, such as ASD education, linking families with resources, and cultural adaptations. We expect the Mind the Gap intervention to be a sustainable community-based intervention that increases caregiver engagement and uptake of intervention services for low-resource racial and ethnic minority families.

Photo credit: iStock.com/sbhaumik
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