ImPACT Update – April 2026

ImPACT Update

April 2026 | This issue’s focus: Telehealth coaching in community service systems

Research Spotlight

Telehealth Pilot Study of the Effects of a Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention on Child Social Communication Outcomes in a Community Mental Health System

Greatorex, J., Straiton-Webster, D., & Ingersoll, B. (2025)

This study examined whether Project ImPACT could improve social communication skills for young autistic children when delivered via telehealth by community providers in a Medicaid-funded community mental health system. Researchers were especially interested in outcomes for families in under‑resourced settings, where access to evidence‑based autism interventions is often limited.

Study Snapshot

What was done:
Project ImPACT was delivered via telehealth by community providers working in a publicly funded service system, with caregivers coached to use strategies during everyday routines.

Who participated:
21 families of young autistic children (ages 2–6) receiving ABA services through a community mental health system participated; a subset of caregivers also completed follow‑up interviews.

What was measured:
Caregivers reported on children’s social communication outcomes (communication, social reciprocity, and peer interaction) across multiple time points, alongside caregiver perspectives on their experiences.

Key Findings

Child outcomes:
Caregivers reported significant reductions in peer interaction challenges and positive trends in communication skills over the course of Project ImPACT delivered via telehealth.

Caregiver experiences:
Caregivers described increased child engagement, communication, and social initiation, particularly when using strategies like following the child’s lead and expectant waiting.

Real-world delivery:
Meaningful improvements were observed in community-based, publicly funded settings, even when providers were early in their Project ImPACT training and coaching fidelity was below benchmark.

Practice Notes

Start with responsive strategies: Prioritize following the child’s lead and expectant waiting—caregivers found these easy to use, enjoyable, and effective for increasing engagement and communication.
Expect social communication gains to generalize: Improvements in peer interaction emerged even without direct peer teaching, suggesting that foundational skills naturally carry over to broader social contexts.
Focus on caregiver engagement over perfection: Meaningful child gains occurred even when provider fidelity was below benchmark, highlighting the value of consistent caregiver practice over “perfect” coaching.
Adapt coaching intentionally for telehealth: Telehealth can reduce barriers but may require clearer session goals, simpler strategies, and extra support for live practice and feedback.
Invite the whole family into practice: Caregivers easily shared strategies with other family members, increasing opportunities for practice and generalization across routines.

Announcements

Our next available Advanced Course will be offered May 18-21, 2026.
This course is open to providers who work with young children with social communication delays.
This is the last session available before our Fall schedule begins.