Project Summary
PCORI implementation projects promote the use of findings from PCORI-funded studies in real-world healthcare and other settings. These projects build toward broad use of evidence to inform healthcare decisions.
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This PCORI-funded implementation project is expanding the use of a school-based program shown to improve executive functioning and classroom behaviors for students with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). |
| ASD and ADHD are health conditions that affect how people learn and relate to others. Children with ASD and ADHD often have problems with executive functioning. Issues with executive functioning can lead to long-term problems with education, independent living, and quality of life. | |
What is the goal of this implementation project?
Children with ASD and ADHD often need support with executive functioning skills such as planning and flexibility. Clinics offer services to support these skills. But many children with ASD and ADHD, especially those with low incomes, don’t have access to clinic services.
A PCORI-funded study found that a school-based program called Unstuck and On Target, or UOT, improved executive functioning and classroom behaviors for students with symptoms of ASD and ADHD. Students maintained these gains one year later.
This project will expand the use of UOT to more than 200 schools to improve executive functioning among students with ASD and ADHD.
What will this project do?
In UOT, school staff actively teach students how to plan, set goals, and be flexible. The project team will make the in-person UOT training for school staff an online training so that any school with internet access can offer UOT. The project team will
- Work with schools, parents, and other education leaders to figure out how to offer UOT in a variety of school settings, including schools in rural areas
- Transfer content from the in-person UOT training to an online platform
- Train school staff through the online platform
- Provide support to school staff who deliver UOT
What is the expected impact of this project?
This project will develop processes and then show what’s required to successfully deliver UOT with virtual training and remote support for school staff in a variety of school settings. In this project, up to 2,000 students in third to fifth grade who have ASD or ADHD will receive UOT; these students may not otherwise receive services to support executive functioning. The project evaluation will confirm that UOT is working as intended to improve students’ executive function.
School districts have expressed a commitment to expanding the program after this project ends. The project team will create materials to support rollout to other schools based on experience in this project.
More about this implementation project:
Stakeholders Involved in This Project
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Implementation Strategies
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Evaluation OutcomesTo document implementation:
To assess health outcomes:
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COVID-19-Related Activities
Summary
In response to COVID-19, many elementary schools have stopped providing in-person special education services. Parents and other caregivers are now educating children at home. Without structured services, children with ASD and ADHD are at risk of anxiety, changes in mood, and behavioral problems.
With this enhancement, the project team will adapt resources from the Unstuck and On Target program for online use at home. The team will share resources with parents of children with ASD and ADHD to support special education at home. Parents can also use these resources when schools reopen.
Enhancement Award Amount: $499,989
Project Information
Key Dates
Initial PCORI-Funded Research Study
This implementation project focuses on putting findings into practice from this completed PCORI-funded research study: Improving Classroom Behaviors among Students with Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
| PCORI implementation projects promote the use of findings from PCORI-funded studies in real-world healthcare and other settings. These projects build toward broad use of evidence to inform healthcare decisions. | |
|
This PCORI-funded implementation project is expanding the use of a school-based program shown to improve executive functioning and classroom behaviors for students with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). |
| ASD and ADHD are health conditions that affect how people learn and relate to others. Children with ASD and ADHD often have problems with executive functioning. Issues with executive functioning can lead to long-term problems with education, independent living, and quality of life. | |
Implementation Project Summary
COVID-19-Related Project EnhancementIn response to COVID-19, many elementary schools have stopped providing in-person special education services. Parents and other caregivers are now educating children at home. Without structured services, children with ASD and ADHD are at risk of anxiety, changes in mood, and behavioral problems. With this enhancement, the project team will adapt resources from the Unstuck and On Target program for online use at home. The team will share resources with parents of children with ASD and ADHD to support special education at home. Parents can also use these resources when schools reopen. Enhancement Award Amount: $499,989 |
What is the goal of this implementation project?
Children with ASD and ADHD often need support with executive functioning skills such as planning and flexibility. Clinics offer services to support these skills. But many children with ASD and ADHD, especially those with low incomes, don’t have access to clinic services.
A PCORI-funded study found that a school-based program called Unstuck and On Target, or UOT, improved executive functioning and classroom behaviors for students with symptoms of ASD and ADHD. Students maintained these gains one year later.
This project will expand the use of UOT to more than 200 schools to improve executive functioning among students with ASD and ADHD.
What will this project do?
In UOT, school staff actively teach students how to plan, set goals, and be flexible. The project team will make the in-person UOT training for school staff an online training so that any school with internet access can offer UOT. The project team will
- Work with schools, parents, and other education leaders to figure out how to offer UOT in a variety of school settings, including schools in rural areas
- Transfer content from the in-person UOT training to an online platform
- Train school staff through the online platform
- Provide support to school staff who deliver UOT
What is the expected impact of this project?
This project will develop processes and then show what’s required to successfully deliver UOT with virtual training and remote support for school staff in a variety of school settings. In this project, up to 2,000 students in third to fifth grade who have ASD or ADHD will receive UOT; these students may not otherwise receive services to support executive functioning. The project evaluation will confirm that UOT is working as intended to improve students’ executive function.
School districts have expressed a commitment to expanding the program after this project ends. The project team will create materials to support rollout to other schools based on experience in this project.
More about this implementation project:
Stakeholders Involved in This Project
|
Implementation Strategies
|
Evaluation OutcomesTo document implementation:
To assess health outcomes:
|