Study protocol for coaching and leadership in autism support settings: a cluster randomized controlled hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation trial.
Jill Locke, Nathaniel J Williams, Aksheya Sridhar...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41904557Actively Recruiting
Phase Not Applicable
Age: 5Years +
All Genders
Healthy Volunteers
ID07276750
Coaching and Leadership in Autism Support Settings
Led by University of California, Los Angeles · Updated on 2026-04-07
373
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
8 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of California, Los Angeles
Lead Sponsor
U
University of Washington
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are evaluating interventions to improve support for autistic children in schools, focusing on reducing externalizing behaviors and sustaining evidence-based practices. This trial addresses gaps in available classroom interventions and the ongoing use of these practices over time. It tests both the clinical effectiveness of an educator-delivered intervention called RUBIES and the organizational support strategy HELM to help schools maintain these practices. The project aligns with national priorities for translating proven mental health interventions into community settings and aims to improve outcomes for autistic children in public schools across the U.S. The study includes three groups: one receiving RUBIES combined with HELM, another receiving RUBIES alone, and a third receiving educator psychoeducation as an active comparison. RUBIES is an 8-module program helping educators understand and manage behavior as communication, tailored for autistic characteristics. HELM engages school leaders in a 9-month leadership and organizational strategy program with multiple components like training, coaching, and feedback. The psychoeducation group receives an online self-paced 8-module course focused broadly on autism support without behavioral management strategies. Participants include educators and autistic children aged 5 to 12 in grades K-5 with documented autism and specific behavior scores indicating externalizing challenges. The study measures changes in externalizing behaviors over 24 weeks and the fidelity of RUBIES implementation up to 16 weeks, with sustainment assessed up to 76 weeks. Data collection involves behavior rating scales and monitoring of intervention delivery. The study will run from February 2026 to August 2030, with ongoing assessments to understand both clinical and implementation outcomes.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Coaching and Leadership in Autism Support Settings
Who Can Participate
Age: 5Years +
All Genders
Healthy Volunteers
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Special or general education teachers, paraeducators, and other staff who provide direct instruction and/or behavioral support to autistic children during the school day
- Autistic children with a documented autism spectrum disorder diagnosis via school records (IEP)
- Autistic children enrolled with a participating educator
- Autistic children in grades K-5
- Autistic children aged 5 to 12 years
- Autistic children with a Sutter Eyberg Student Behavior Inventory-Revised (SESBI-R) total score of 101 or higher
- Autistic children with an Emotion Dysregulation Inventory (EDI) sum score of 8 or higher at baseline
You will not qualify if you...
- Sutter Eyberg Student Behavior Inventory-Revised (SESBI-R) total score below 101
- Emotion Dysregulation Inventory (EDI) sum score below 8 at baseline
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
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Your Study Journey
Screening
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
Treatment
Duration - 24 weeks
Participants receive either the RUBIES intervention, HELM leadership strategy, or an Educator Psychoeducation program to support autistic children in school settings.
Multiple visits during the 24-week intervention period
Follow-up
Duration - From 52 to 76 weeks after baseline
Participants are monitored for sustainment of outcomes after the treatment ends.
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
UCLA
Los Angeles, California, United States, 90025
Actively Recruiting
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Research Team
J
Jill J Locke, PhD
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
3
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