Effectiveness of the Care Coordination, Assessment, and Responsive Engagement Program for Transition-aged Adolescents (t-CARE) With ASD

Current collaboration between individuals, families, and providers through in-person meetings are extremely infrequent, costly, and occur most often when providers are intimately involved as part of a multidisciplinary team in a single setting such as at a school. Often, little information is transmitted between providers and/or school personnel in determining treatment goals and interventions. Furthermore, the transmission of information is often provider to provider or school personnel to provider, which excludes direct patient-input and lessens transparency in decision making. In an effort to improve current care and therefore improve successful adult transitions for adolescents with ASD, t-CARE is designed to mimic multidisciplinary team meetings. These meetings are incredibly impactful as they include direct individual and family involvement through facilitated information-sharing, while also maintaining patient-centered care across multiple providers and complex systems of care.

Inclusion criteria

• Between 14 and 19 years of age upon entry into t-CARE
• A primary diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome or autism, as indicated by the Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2; Constantino & Gruber, 2012)
• English as primary language spoken
• Ability to self-report (i.e. understand and answer assessment questions written at a third grade comprehension level) (self-report questions to be asked by study coordinator)

Exclusion criteria

• A significant language delay
• Significant psychosis as indicated through a semi-structured interview (Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview)