Evaluating Georgia Part C Implementation Outcomes

Overview

This study aims to answer the question: What is the best way to help Early Intervention (EI) providers deliver high-quality services to children with communication delays for autism? The primary goal of this project is to examine the outcomes associated with delivering Project ImPACT, an evidence-based autism intervention that is delivered as part of routine training within Georgia's EI system. Providers in the study will receive one of two Project ImPACT training models to help us understand which training model helps providers learn Project ImPACT better. Specifically, this study will examine the: 1) the process and quality by which Project ImPACT is implemented and adapted by EI providers across the two training conditions; 2) factors that impact how well Project ImPACT is implemented; and 3) the child (i.e., social communication) and family (i.e., parent empowerment and fidelity) outcomes associated with receiving Project ImPACT.

Detailed description

This study aims to determine the: 1) implementation outcomes; and 2) preliminary parent and child outcomes associated with Project ImPACT when implemented within the Georgia Early Intervention (EI) system. Twenty EI providers will be trained in one of two Project ImPACT training models. Training will include the option for group consultation. This training is part of standard training requirements, so it is not considered research.

Participating caregivers who receive Project ImPACT will receive the program as part of their routine EI services. They will have two options to participate in this research: 1) complete surveys before and after participation in Project ImPACT (each set will take 20-30 minutes), as well as an exit interview; or 2) complete a confidential survey only after participating in Project ImPACT, which will take 20-30 minutes. All research activities will be conducted at the Marcus Autism Center.

Interventions

• Other Project ImPACT Training As Usual
  Project ImPACT is an evidence-based autism intervention that teaches parents to use a blend of developmental and naturalistic behavioral intervention techniques across a variety of daily routines to enhance their child's social engagement, language, imitation, and play skills. The typical training model for Project ImPACT includes a 6-hour, interactive online tutorial that walks providers through the core Project ImPACT intervention strategies. After completing the online tutorial, providers at
• Other Project ImPACT Training Plus Co-Production
  Project ImPACT is an evidence-based autism intervention that teaches parents to use a blend of developmental and naturalistic behavioral intervention techniques across a variety of daily routines to enhance their child's social engagement, language, imitation, and play skills. The second cohort for Project ImPACT training is a model in which providers receive the same typical Project ImPACT training activities, in addition to three supplemental modules on other common areas of concern for famil
• Behavioral Routine Project ImPACT
  Project ImPACT is an evidence-based autism intervention that teaches parents to use a blend of developmental and naturalistic behavioral intervention techniques across a variety of daily routines to enhance their child's social engagement, language, imitation, and play skills. Project ImPACT is delivered with parents meeting once or twice each week for one hour over 12- 16 weeks. In each session, parents receive: 1) didactic instruction in intervention strategies; 2) modeling of the intervention

Primary outcome measures

• Project ImPACT Coaching Fidelity [Time frame: Biweekly up to 20 weeks]
• Provider Co-Production Quality [Time frame: Baseline; Weekly up to 12 weeks, and 6-months]

Secondary outcome measures (7)

• Project ImPACT Self-Efficacy. [Time frame: Baseline, 1-month after baseline (post-Project ImPACT training), and 12 months]
• Perceived Characteristics of the Intervention Scale (Project ImPACT Perceptions) [Time frame: Study completion (on average 12 months)]
• The Family Outcome Survey (caregivers) [Time frame: Baseline and study completion (on average 6 months)]
• Parent Observation of Social Interaction [Time frame: Baseline]
• Social Communication Checklist (caregivers) [Time frame: Baseline and study completion (on average 6 months)]
• Project ImPACT Fidelity for Parents. [Time frame: Baseline and study completion (on average 6 months)]
• Project ImPACT Satisfaction. [Time frame: Study completion (on average 6 months)]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria for Providers:

• Currently employed or contracted by Georgia's EI system
• Maintain an active therapy caseload
• Fluent in English.

Inclusion Criteria for Caregivers:

• Have a child under 36 months currently enrolled in services through Georgia's Early Intervention system
• Are being seen by a provider participating in Project ImPACT training and research
• Fluent in English.

Exclusion Criteria for both Providers and Caregivers:

• Not meeting the eligibility criteria.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: Yes

Study design

Allocation

Non-randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Open label

Primary purpose

Health services research

Study locations

United States · 1 center

• Marcus Autism Center — Atlanta

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07148258 · STUDY00010098 · 1K23MH130651-01A1 · 2025P013101

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗