Special Issue: Community Development and Implementation - Provider perspectives and reach of an evidence-based intervention in community services for toddlers

Oct 15, 2026

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Best-practice guidance for young children at high likelihood of autism emphasizes active caregiver involvement, yet evidence-based parent-mediated interventions remain underused in community practice. Preliminary findings indicate Project ImPACT for Toddlers improves parent and child outcomes in real-world settings. This study evaluates implementation outcomes from an initial community rollout and analyzes system-wide reach to support sustainment and scale-up. Thirty-eight community providers reported perceived acceptability, strengths, and interview themes supporting feasibility and utility, with quantitative reach data showing growing agency delivery and family access.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

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Abstract

Lay abstract

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Special Issue: Community Development and Implementation Provider perspectives and reach of an evidence-based intervention in community services for toddlers Sarah R Rieth 1,2, Kelsey S Dickson 1,2, Jordan Ko2, Rachel Haine-Schlagel 1,2, Kim Gaines3, Lauren Brookman-Frazee2,4,5 and Aubyn C Stahmer2,6 Autism 2022, Vol. 26(3) 628–639 © The Author(s) 2022 Article reuse guidelines: [sagepub.com/journals-permissions](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[ ](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[DOI: 10.1177/13623613211065535](DOI: 10.1177/13623613211065535)[ ](DOI: 10.1177/13623613211065535)[journals.sagepub.com/home/aut](journals.sagepub.com/home/aut) Abstract 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. Lay abstract Expert recommendations for toddlers who are likely to develop autism include caregivers being actively involved in the services children receive. However, many services available in the community may not follow these recommendations. Evidence suggests that an intervention named Project ImPACT for Toddlers demonstrates positive parent and child outcomes for families in the community. Project ImPACT for Toddlers was designed specifically for toddlers by a group of parents, clinicians, researchers, and funders. It teaches parents of young children strategies to support their child’s development in daily routines. This study reports the perspectives of early intervention providers who learned to use Project ImPACT for Toddlers on whether the intervention was a good fit for their practice and easy to use. The study also examines how many agencies are using Project ImPACT for Toddlers and how many families have received the intervention in the community. The goal of the study is to inform the continued use of Project ImPACT for Toddlers in the community and support offering the intervention in other regions. Participants include 38 community providers who participated in a training study of Project ImPACT for Toddlers and completed a survey and semi-structured interview 1 San Diego State University, USA 2Child and Adolescent Services Research Center (CASRC), USA 3San Diego Regional Center, USA 4University of California, San Diego, USA 5Autism Discovery Institute, Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA 6University of California, Davis, USA Corresponding author: Sarah R Rieth, San Diego St

FAQs

What intervention is evaluated in this study?

The study evaluates Project ImPACT for Toddlers, adapted for toddlers to teach parents strategies for social, communication, and play skills in daily routines.

Who participated and what did they do?

Thirty-eight community providers participated, completing an implementation survey and semi-structured interviews after about three months of community implementation.

What does the study conclude about implementation and reach?

Providers viewed the training model as acceptable and appropriate, with themes supporting feasibility, acceptability, and utility. Reach data indicate increasing numbers of agencies delivering the intervention and families receiving it.

Oct 15, 2026

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