Testing Scalable Caregiver Interventions for Autism

Summary

Autism spectrum disorder affects 1-2% of children worldwide, yet access to quality care remains limited, especially in underserved communities. Families face systemic barriers such as workforce shortages, high caregiver stress, and a lack of culturally appropriate services.

To address these gaps, researchers developed a group-based caregiver training program to improve caregiver well-being and child communication and behavior. Successfully piloted in rural U.S. communities and western Kenya through the AMPATH Program, the intervention showed promising results in reducing caregiver stress and autism severity.

Building on this success, a new study will evaluate two delivery models-professionally-led and peer-led-using a rigorous effectiveness-implementation trial. The project applies a reciprocal innovation approach, using insights from Kenya to inform U.S. strategies for scaling community-based autism support.

The long-term goal is to reduce disparities in autism care by creating scalable, low-cost, caregiver-driven models. A Community Advisory Panel will guide the research to ensure relevance and impact. This initiative represents a transformative step toward equitable autism services across global and U.S. settings.

Conditions

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Autism
• ASD

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Professionally-facilitated groups

A group-based caregiver ASD intervention will be delivered through two distinct implementation strategies led by trained therapists or teachers using a structured 10-week in-person curriculum at the MTRH campus and virtually in the US.

BEHAVIORAL

Peer-facilitated groups

A group-based caregiver ASD intervention will be delivered through two distinct implementation strategies led by trained caregivers of children with ASD who deliver the same core curriculum with flexibility in timing and location, provided that all content is completed within four months.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Moi University

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Virginia

  collaborator OTHER

• Indiana University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Eren Oyungu, MBChB · Moi University

• Megan S. McHenry, MD, MS · Indiana University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

2 Years

Max Age

8 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-07-01

Primary Completion

2029-06-30

Completion

2030-06-01

Countries

• United States
• Kenya

Study Locations