Provider Perspectives and Reach of an Evidence-Based Intervention in Community Services for Toddlers

Best-practice recommendations for young children at high likelihood of autism include active involvement of caregivers in intervention. However, the use of evidence-based parent-mediated interventions in community practice remains limited. Preliminary evidence suggests that Project ImPACT for Toddlers demonstrates positive parent and child outcomes in community settings. Project ImPACT for Toddlers was adapted specifically for toddlers and teaches parents of young children strategies to build their child's social, communication, and play skills in daily routines. This study reports implementation outcomes from the initial community rollout of Project ImPACT for Toddlers and examines the system-wide intervention reach, with the goal of informing continued community sustainment and scale-up. Participants include 38 community providers who participated in a Project ImPACT for Toddlers' training study who completed an implementation survey and semi-structured interviews after approximately 3 months of community implementation. Participants perceived the training model as acceptable and appropriate, and identified several strengths of the approach. Interview themes also supported the feasibility, acceptability, and utility of the intervention in community settings. Quantitative findings complemented the thematic results from interviews. Intervention reach data indicate an increasing number of agencies delivering and families receiving Project ImPACT for Toddlers. Efforts to scale-up evidence-based interventions in early intervention should continue to build upon the model of the Bond, Regulate, Interact, Develop, Guide, and Engage Collaborative.