Development and utility of the Family-Centered Autism Navigation interview

Navigating various systems, resources, and supports available for families of children with autism spectrum disorder is challenging. Family navigation is a potentially important support system for families of children with autism spectrum disorder. Family navigators are professionals who engage with families to enhance access to early identification and intervention services via shared navigation plans that help meet the family’s priorities and goals when navigating systems of support. Systematic processes and tools facilitating the development of a shared navigation plan with families following diagnosis are currently limited. This short report describes product development of the Family-Centered Autism Navigation using quality improvement methods including Lean Launch and qualitative methodology. Lay abstract When a parent learns of their child’s autism diagnosis, they may be overwhelmed, confused, and frustrated. Family navigation services are designed to improve access to care. While these services are a promising intervention to enhance well-being and developmental outcomes, there are limited tools that can systematically facilitate the development of a shared navigation plan that prioritizes the concerns of the family. The Family-Centered Autism Navigation semi-structured interview guide is designed for family navigators to triage and prioritize caregiver’s needs to coordinate and navigate systems of care after learning of their child’s autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. The goals of the Family-Centered Autism Navigation interview are to (1) identify family and child strengths; (2) identify family/caregiver concerns regarding navigation of services and systems following their child’s diagnosis of autism; (3) measure change in caregiver knowledge, ability and skill as it relates to understanding, remembering, and evaluating information they receive; and (4) assist with the development of a shared navigation plan. When using the Family-Centered Autism Navigation guide, family navigators and caregivers co-create a family-centered, prioritized action plan that supports and prepares caregivers as they navigate systems of care. This short report describes the development process of the Family-Centered Autism Navigation semi-structured interview guide. We utilized brief interviews ( n = 42), expert feedback ( n = 13), and quality improvement strategies ( n = 2 family navigators) to develop the questions and determine the usability of the Family-Centered Autism Navigation interview in practice.