"I Know How to Get Around Your 'No'": A Follow-Up of the FACES Psychoeducational Intervention

Black children and their families encounter systemic disadvantages in their journey to and through an autism diagnosis. Black families often experience social and systemic barriers to service use. Providing family-centered, psychoeducational interventions can reduce barriers to service access and utilization for Black families raising autistic children. Fostering Advocacy, Communication, Empowerment, and Support (FACES) has demonstrated preliminary efficacy in strengthening outcomes among Black families, yet little is known about the long-term impact of the intervention. The purpose of this qualitative interview study was to understand the experiences of FACES graduates 16 months after the intervention. Four major themes emerged: (a) strengthened advocacy, (b) strengthened empowerment, (c) systemic barriers, and (d) home and community barriers. We provide implications for research and practice.