Integration of Family Navigation into ECHO Autism for Pediatric Primary Care in Underserved Communities

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Intervention
• Healthcare Access Equity

Background:

• Children with autism from underserved communities face significant barriers to diagnosis and early intervention.
• Existing healthcare systems often struggle to bridge the gap between autism screening and service access.
• A novel program integrating primary care provider (PCP) training with family navigation (FN) was developed to address these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the preliminary effects and feasibility of the ECHO Autism LINKS program.
• To assess the impact of integrated PCP training and FN on bridging gaps in autism care access.
• To determine the acceptability and preliminary efficacy of this innovative healthcare model.

Main Methods:

• The study involved three cohorts of 42 pediatric primary care providers (PCPs) over 12 months.
• PCPs participated in bi-monthly 60-minute virtual sessions including didactics, case-based learning, and expert collaboration.
• Family navigators provided direct services to families referred by participating PCPs, addressing service access and connection needs.

Main Results:

• PCPs showed significant improvements in self-efficacy for autism care and reported high satisfaction.
• The program successfully referred 258 families for family navigation services, with 83% needing assistance connecting to services.
• Attendance and engagement in the program were strong, with 40 cases presented.

Conclusions:

• The ECHO Autism LINKS program is feasible, acceptable, and demonstrates preliminary efficacy.
• The integrated model shows promise in overcoming complex healthcare access barriers for children with autism.
• Further research is warranted to confirm the program's efficacy and effectiveness on child and family outcomes.