Project Impact

About Project Impact

Project ImPACT is recognized as one of the most effective coaching programs for caregivers of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related social communication delays. Project ImPACT teaches caregivers strategies they can use to help their child develop social, communication, imitation, and play skills during daily routines and activities. It is supported by research and based on the principles of developmental science and applied behavioral analysis (ABA). It was recently recognized as a manualized intervention meeting criteria established by the National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice (NCAEP).

The DNEA is supporting the dissemination of Project ImPACT training across the state. The DNEA intends to help strengthen Delaware’s capacity to support young children with autism and social communication challenges by providing ongoing training and technical assistance to targeted groups of providers who wish to implement Project ImPACT.  This training will allow providers to be placed on a state-wide roster and puts providers in a position to accept referrals from agencies/organizations. This roster will be made available to families and a variety of referral sources. 

Virtual Training

May 15th – 19th, 2023

Noon – 3:30 pm

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Covers for books Teaching Social Communication Guide to Coaching Parents and Teaching Social Communication Manual for Parents

Project ImPACT Training Components

Upon completing the training series, providers will be provided with everything they need to begin immediately implementing Project ImPACT. This will include the Project ImPACT curriculum, coaching guide, and manual for caregivers, which provide step-by-step instructions and reproducible materials and resources for implementing Project ImPACT. Additionally, providers will engage in ongoing technical assistance with the DNEA and Project ImPACT trainers, in order to support their integration of Project ImPACT into their practice.  Providers will receive ongoing consultation to assist with clinical and organizational issues to help with treatment fidelity and sustainability while providing a unique and beneficial treatment to their clients and families.

Provider Qualifications

Adopting Project ImPACT requires full commitment on behalf of an agency to ensure appropriate implementation and fidelity to the model.

  • Providers who wish to implement Project ImPACT must have a graduate degree in a related field or significant experience working with families of young children with social communication challenges.

  • Provider’s agency must have ongoing access to and experience working with children in the appropriate age range (18 months to 6 years) and their families. However, the strategies are ideal for children with expressive communication skills upwards of 48 months.

  • It is strongly recommended that each provider have at least one family identified for Project ImPACT prior to the initial training so they may begin therapy with that family immediately following the training.

  • All providers who plan to use the program should have consistent access to the coach manual and each family receiving caregiver coaching should also receive their own copy of the caregiver manual.

  • Provider’s agency must be willing to dedicate time for their clinicians to attend all training days and ongoing technical assistance consultations.

  • Provider’s agency should have treatment space conducive for ProjectImPACT.

Beginner e-Course

The Beginner e-Course (formerly called Online Tutorial) introduces the Project ImPACT program and the intervention strategies. The Beginner e-Course is offered as a 6-hour, self-paced online tutorial that uses a rich mix of didactic elements, video examples, and exercises to teach key concepts. The Beginner e-course is approved for 7 BACB CEUs and 0.60 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate Level; Professional Area).

Participants should have a copy of the Parent Manual before completing the Beginner e-Course. Manuals are provided by DNEA.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the Beginner e-Course, participants should be able to:

  • Explain the rationale for parent/caregiver-mediated intervention
  • Discuss the structure of the individual and group coaching models
  • List the strategies for engaging and coaching caregivers
  • Describe the social communication skills targeted in Project ImPACT
  • Discuss the Project ImPACT F.A.C.T.S. strategies
  • Describe behavior management strategies used to address challenging behavior

Advanced Course

The Advanced Course (formerly called Introductory Training Workshop) prepares providers to use the Project ImPACT curriculum with families. The Advanced Course is offered as a 14-hour, multi-day workshop that uses a combination of lecture, video review, role play, and small group discussion to help providers apply the concepts learned in the Beginner e-Course. Providers must complete the Beginner e-Course before attending the Advanced Course. Advanced courses are being held on May 15th – 18th from noon to 3:30.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the Advanced Course, participants should be able to:

  • Explain how to engage and empower caregivers in Project ImPACT
  • Describe how to develop social communication goals with parents for Project ImPACT
  • Describe how to use Project ImPACT intervention strategies in play and daily activities
  • Describe how to score caregivers fidelity of implementation
  • Discuss how to provide caregivers with hands-on coaching and feedback
  • Identify how to implement Project ImPACT within your agency

Virtual Training

May 15th – 19th, 2023

Noon – 3:30 pm

Join the Waiting List