A hybrid type I randomized effectiveness-implementation trial of a Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention...

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Behavioral Science
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBI) improve functioning in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• The Part C Early Intervention (EI) system is a publicly funded infrastructure for delivering NDBIs to toddlers.
• This study assesses the effectiveness and implementation of CI-RIT within the Part C EI system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of Caregiver Implemented Reciprocal Imitation Teaching (CI-RIT) in the Part C Early Intervention (EI) system.
• To determine the fit of CI-RIT within a national service delivery setting for early intervention.
• To gather data on training and intervention effectiveness for scalable implementation.

Main Methods:

• A hybrid type 1 effectiveness/implementation trial with a multi-site randomized control design across four states.
• Participants include EI providers randomized to CI-RIT or treatment as usual (TAU) and child/caregiver dyads.
• Outcomes measured include child social communication, joint attention, motor imitation, caregiver responsivity, and implementation fidelity.

Main Results:

• Effectiveness and implementation data for CI-RIT within the Part C EI system are being collected.
• The study will provide insights into the training and intervention effectiveness of CI-RIT.
• Data collection includes child and caregiver outcomes, as well as implementation metrics like fidelity and acceptability.

Conclusions:

• This trial is a significant effort to integrate an evidence-based NDBI (CI-RIT) into the national Part C EI service delivery system.
• The multi-site design will yield critical data for optimizing CI-RIT implementation at scale.
• Findings will support the broader adoption and effectiveness of CI-RIT for toddlers with early signs of autism.