Evaluation of a Community-Driven, Equitable Autism Doula Program for Black Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a community-driven intervention designed to support Black children newly diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and their families. The study aims to assess the Autism Doula program, which was developed to address barriers to equitable care such as lack of cultural representation, caregiver stress, stigma, and uncertainty about needed services. This program offers culturally matched family navigation and social-emotional support to improve care experiences and promote health equity. The study randomly assigns 56 Black families with children aged 18 months to five years to either the intervention group receiving Autism Doula services or a control group receiving usual care including a one-time telehealth consultation with DDBP Family Navigation. The Autism Doula provides culturally responsive support, helps caregivers navigate next steps for their child's care, connects families with the Black autism community, and offers services to alleviate caregiver stress such as cooking, cleaning, and respite care. The study period includes three months of program participation. Participants will be monitored through Autism Doula field notes, satisfaction surveys, and medical chart reviews at the end of the three-month program. Researchers will assess feasibility and acceptability by measuring satisfaction, session completion, and intervention delivery fidelity. They will also evaluate preliminary effectiveness by comparing caregiver perceived stress levels, self-efficacy, and completion of recommended next steps between the two groups. The total study duration for each participant is three months after enrollment.

Autism Doula Program Evaluation