Telemental Health Parent Training and Support for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: COMPASS for Hope (C-HOPE)

Parenting interventions are a form of evidence-based practice that can benefit families who have a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; Amsbary J, AFIRM Team (2017) Parent Implemented Intervention (PII). EBP Brief Packet. National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders). Access to these specialized interventions can be challenging, including geographical and financial barriers and a limited number of available clinicians (Antezana, Scarpa, Valdespino, Albright, Richey, Front Psychol 8:590, 2017). In response, the Collaborative Model for Promoting Competence and Success (COMPASS; (Ruble, McGrew, Toland, Dalrymple, Jung, J Consult Clin Psychol 81:566–572, 2013); 2023) was modified to be delivered either in-person or via videoconference technology to parents/caregivers using a group format. Called COMPASS for Hope (C-HOPE), the program provides both parental/caregiver support and practical behavioral strategies tailored to the unique context and challenges of families that have a child with ASD. In this chapter, we discuss the advantages, challenges, and empirical support for telemental health services generally and specifically for parent training interventions, including C-HOPE. We provide an overview of the C-HOPE intervention and include practice considerations for providing services delivered using a technology platform. We conclude with a case study highlighting the implementation of C-HOPE that includes both participant and clinician perspectives.