Improving Access

Open Studies

Research study opportunity: Autism FIRST project

Download the Autism FIRST recruitment flyer PDF

STUDY PURPOSE: Researchers at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities are looking for research participants for a study about the efficacy of early intervention services provided over telehealth (video conferencing) for kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. Parents will receive coaching to provide interventions to support their child's communication and other skills.

YOU AND YOUR CHILD MAY BE ELIGIBLE IF: Your child is between 1 and 5 years old and is either on a waitlist to be evaluated for ASD or has received an ASD diagnosis in the last 3 months & is waiting for services.

WHAT DOES THIS STUDY INVOLVE? Participants receive parent coaching for 30-60 minutes 3x weekly for 9-12 weeks through video conferencing home visits. Questionnaires and interviews are given before and after the intervention. Overall, parents commit to 18 months of participation. Research staff will connect with participants via a webcam and a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Training is provided. Compensation is up to $275 per child/family.

Please contact telehealthstudy@umn.edu for more information about the study.

BabySprout: Research Opportunity for You and Your Baby

Download the BabySprout recruitment flyer

What: You can help researchers from the University of Minnesota better understand early development.

You and your infant can participate in a study which involves the following:

  1. BabySprout program includes remote caregiver coaching during daily routines via videoconferencing for 12 weeks, up to 3 times a week, for 10-35 minutes.
  2. Four remote study “visits” to observe your infant’s play and communication at study entry (6-9 months), 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months.
  3. Four OPTIONAL in person study visits at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus. Why: We want to learn about early development and how to provide infant coaching and interventions in ways that are helpful and easy for families who may have concerns about their infant’s development.

Who: A parent and their infant ages 5 to 9 months old.

Where: Most of the study activities are conducted online or using videoconferencing (like Zoom or FaceTime). Some optional activities involve visiting the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain.

Compensation: We provide compensation to you for your time, up to $400.00 for participating in BabySprout study activities.

To learn more please contact: BabySprout@umn.edu

A man holding an infant while looking at a computer monitor

Family and child-centered early intervention resources

Project Scope

Project Scope Recruitment Flyer PDF

MN Project SCOPE (Supporting Children of the Opioid Epidemic, z.umn.edu/MNProjectScope ) is an immersion training series focused on supporting children born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) or Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS). The series features didactic sessions from an interdisciplinary team of specialists. The series reaches broader audiences across Minnesota using the ECHO Model® (Extension for Community Health Outcomes, z.umn.edu/ECHOmodel ), using a hub-and-spoke model to connect rural and remote practitioners with specialists. MN Project SCOPE is part of the broader national training initiative, Project SCOPE (z.umn.edu/ProjectScopeNational ), and is facilitated by University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration (ICI).

Families of Children with Behavioral Health and Mental Health Needs

Project ECHO® Flyer PDF

Project ECHO® series: University of Minnesota's Telehealth to Support Families of Children with Behavioral Health and Mental Health Needs ECHO (10 sessions). Hear from and share with U of M Hub Team members in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Social Work, Early Childhood Intervention and Special Education. This series is open to all, but is likely most relevant to primary care, pediatric, behavioral health, mental health, and educational providers.

Topics to be covered include:

  1. Primary Care Assessment: Co-occurring Medical Considerations/ Overshadowing Behavioral Disorders (Seizure Disorder, Medications, Sleeping, Eating, Pain)
  2. Supporting Children and Youth with Challenging Behavior
  3. Mood Disorders
  4. Hyper Activity Attention Disorder
  5. Autism Spectrum Disorder
  6. Navigating Special Education and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)
  7. Supporting Healthy Brain Development
  8. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
  9. Anxiety Disorders
  10. ACEs, historical trauma, and trauma-Informed supports.