12th Annual JFK Partners Autism Conference – Increasing Access to Evidence-Based Programs for Autistic Youth

October 11, 2024 - 8:00 AM-3:00 PM
 
Project ImPACT: A Community-viable Parent-mediated Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention (NDBI) 

Presenter: Brooke Ingersoll, PhD, BCBA-D; Professor, Department of Psychology, Michigan State University

Description: Naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions (NDBIs) are a newer class of interventions that integrate principles from developmental science and applied behavior analysis, which can be compatible with neurodiversity-affirming practice. Parent-mediated NDBIs utilize adult learning strategies to teach parents to use NDBI strategies with their child to support their development. This presentation will provide a brief review of the evidence-base for this approach and will highlight a specific parent-mediated NDBI, Project ImPACT. It will describe its guiding principles and core components and will review the research has been conducted on Project ImPACT with an effort towards understanding how, for whom, and under what conditions Project ImPACT works.

Learning Objectives

• Describe evidence base for parent-mediated NDBIs
• Understand the key elements of Project ImPACT
• Understand the research supporting Project ImPACT

The RUBI Parent Training Program for Autistic Youth with Challenging Behaviors: Adaptations and Innovations to Enhance Community Access to Care

Presenter: Karen Bearss, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington

Description: As many as 50% of autistic children engage in behaviors such as meltdowns, shutdowns, aggression, or self-injury that can have safety implications and reduce overall quality of life. Impacts include difficulties engaging in or completing daily living skills, reductions in access to educational services, and increases in social isolation. The recognized struggles parents face in effectively supporting their autistic child have sparked increased interest in evidence-based parent training (PT) programs, as they empower parents to become an agent of change as they learn approaches that are designed to better scaffold and respond to their child’s needs. The Research Unit on Behavioral Interventions (RUBI) Autism Network developed a manualized parent training program that utilizes techniques grounded in behavior analytic principles to teach families of autistic children how to successfully navigate their child’s behaviors. With over a dozen published research studies on the RUBI program we have found that it is acceptable to parents, can be reliably delivered by trained therapists, and reduces children’s quality of life impacting behaviors. RUBI is emerging as an important component of short-term, effective treatment for autistic children and has been expanding reach into community-based clinical practice.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the role of parent training as part of a comprehensive treatment model for autistic youth 
• Summarize the research base and content of the RUBI Parent Training program, including target clinical populations appropriate for the delivery of RUBI 
• Compare various treatment models appropriate for community-based delivery of RUBI that are designed to increase access to care
• Formulate RUBI treatment plans that are responsive to supporting neurodiverse youth and their families 

The conference will include a panel discussion between autistic individuals or other self-advocates, caregivers, and providers.  

The conference will be delivered in a hybrid format with both in-person and remote participation options!

SPEAKERS

Dr. Brooke Ingersoll is a professor of clinical science and the director of the MSU Autism Research Lab. She received her PhD in experimental psychology at University of California, San Diego and completed a clinical post-doc in child psychology at Oregon Health & Science University. She is a licensed psychologist and board-certified behavior analyst. Dr. Ingersoll’s research focuses on the development of community-viable interventions for autistic children and their families. A major emphasis of her current work is on NDBI-based parent-mediated interventions. Dr. Ingersoll has published more than 100 articles and book chapters on autism, and is the co-author of Teaching Social Communication to Children with Autism, an internationally-recognized parent coaching curriculum for autistic children.   

Dr. Karen Bearss is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Washington. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Florida. Dr. Bearss was involved in the NIMH collaborative study of the RUBI Parent Training program, where she was designated as first author on the primary paper, published in JAMA, as well as the RUBI Parent Training Manual, available in the Oxford University Press Programs that Work series. She is currently focused on expanding the reach of RUBI via novel contexts, modalities, and clinical populations. She actively publishes in the field, including seminal papers providing a critical analysis of the field of behavioral parent training in autism and the need to expand accessible, equitable, and personalized interventions for this population. Through these projects, Dr. Bearss has cultivated an expertise in the development, testing, and implementation of parenting interventions for autistic youth with co-occurring challenging behaviors. 

Audience: This conference is intended for clinicians, school personnel, community providers, parents and individuals with autism and/or other developmental disabilities. 

Registration 
Your registration fee includes:

• Access to nationally recognized speakers through Q&A
• Digital handouts
• Lunch (for in-person attendees) or access from home by Zoom
• Contact hour certificate, by completing evaluation
• Networking opportunities & reuniting with friends/colleagues

Do you have a group of five or more? Please contact Christine Cook at christine.cook@cuanschutz.edu for discount information!

Registration Deadline:  9/30/24 

A limited number of scholarships are available for parents/self-advocates. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis and may be requested from christine.cook@cuanschutz.edu.
 
Captions will be available. This event will not be recorded.

Contact hour certificates will be available to those who attend and complete the conference evaluation. 

Accommodations may be requested by contacting the conference coordinator (christine.cook@cuanschutz.edu). Requests are due no later than September 20. 

Location and Parking: The conference will take place at the Anschutz Medical Campus, Education 2 South Building, 13121 E. 17th Ave., 1st Floor Auditorium, Aurora, CO. Those registered will receive additional parking and location instructions.

Payment Options: Credit card payment at the time of online registration is required. No walk-in registrations can be accepted. 

Cancellation Policy: The registration fee is non-refundable; substitutions are allowed. JFK Partners reserves the right to modify the agenda or cancel the conference in the event of an unforeseen circumstance, or if minimum acceptable registration is not attained by Sept 30, 2024, with a full refund to participants. There are no refunds for missed attendance or delays due to participant technical issues, connectivity or other problems.

Questions? Contact Christine Cook at christine.cook@cuanschutz.edu or 303-724-0429.