Team-Based Caregiver Training Linked to Improved Autism Outcomes, ACES Study Finds
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience significantly better developmental outcomes when their caregivers participate in structured, team-based training programs, according to a new report from ACES 2020, LLC (“ACES”), the nation’s leading provider of autism and special needs services. The report highlights how collaborative caregiver training not only boosts engagement but also measurably enhances clinical progress in children undergoing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy.
The findings underscore the vital role caregivers play in their child’s therapeutic journey—and how the method and structure of caregiver training can make a meaningful difference.
A Shift in Approach: From One-on-One to Collaborative Training
Stephanie Scheer, Senior Director of Research and Innovation at ACES, emphasized that while caregiver involvement in autism care has long been recognized as essential, new evidence points to the value of team-based learning formats over traditional one-on-one instruction.
“The reality that caregivers are vital to their child’s outcomes has been well documented in ABA research for the last few decades,” Scheer said. “What we’ve now seen is that outcomes are also influenced by the type of training caregivers receive. It’s not just about participation—it’s about the format, the content, and how well caregivers can apply what they’ve learned in their day-to-day interactions with their children.”
This insight led ACES to reevaluate and redesign its approach to caregiver training. Traditionally, families receiving ABA services from ACES engaged in individualized training sessions, guided by their child’s primary clinical supervisor. However, this model often limited the scope of education and left caregivers without the peer support and broader clinical perspective that can reinforce learning.
Recognizing these limitations, ACES introduced the Caregiver Collaboration Network (CCN) in November 2021—a structured team-based training model aimed at empowering caregivers through collaborative workshops, coaching, and support groups facilitated by dedicated specialists.
Inside the Caregiver Collaboration Network
The CCN is led by a team of Caregiver Collaboration Specialists, professionals who are trained to work directly with families on setting and achieving personalized goals. These specialists focus not just on delivering clinical knowledge, but on ensuring that caregivers feel competent, confident, and supported in applying that knowledge outside of therapy sessions.
The CCN model encourages caregivers to take an active role in the learning process, engage in open dialogue with other families, and work toward shared and individual milestones. Topics addressed in CCN sessions can range from managing behavioral challenges at home, to building social communication skills, to navigating school transitions and advocating for services.
Importantly, the CCN also recognizes that caregiver well-being is central to a child’s development. By fostering a sense of community and providing actionable tools, the program aims to enhance the quality of life for the entire family.
Higher Engagement, Greater Utilization of Training Hours
In examining the effects of the new model, the ACES research team conducted a focused case study involving four families who had begun receiving ABA services before the launch of the CCN and later transitioned into the network-based training program. These families provided a unique opportunity to directly compare utilization patterns before and after the change in training format.
Before the introduction of the CCN, these families accessed an average of just 55% of the caregiver training hours that were authorized by their insurance plans. After joining the network and participating in team-based sessions, that figure rose significantly to 75%.
“That’s a huge increase,” Scheer noted. “The families found the collegial workshop setting—led by clinicians whose No. 1 priority is caregiver education—to be more engaging and accessible. They felt more comfortable asking questions, sharing experiences, and learning alongside others who were facing similar challenges.”
This increase in training engagement is not only a positive outcome on its own—it also has direct implications for clinical progress.
Tangible Clinical Improvements
In addition to higher utilization rates, ACES found that participation in the CCN correlated with more substantial gains in children’s adaptive behavior.
In a broader analysis involving 500 clients, children whose caregivers participated in the CCN showed an average improvement of 3.9 points on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales Adaptive Behavior Composite (VABS-ABC), a standardized assessment used to measure essential life skills such as communication, daily living, and socialization.
By comparison, children whose caregivers did not take part in the CCN saw an average improvement of 2.5 points. While both groups made progress—a score above zero indicates gains in adaptive functioning—the difference is meaningful.
“Any positive change in VABS-ABC is considered a success in autism therapy,” Scheer explained. “But a 3.9-point gain compared to 2.5 is significant. It tells us that children whose caregivers are more fully engaged and better supported through structured training are not only improving—they’re doing so at a more accelerated and impactful rate.”
These findings align with longstanding research in behavioral health, which shows that generalization—the ability to apply learned skills across environments—happens more reliably when caregivers are involved and trained effectively.
Broader Implications for Autism Therapy
The success of the CCN highlights the importance of evolving traditional therapy models to prioritize caregiver empowerment as a core component of treatment. As the autism community continues to advocate for more personalized and family-centered services, programs like the CCN offer a promising blueprint.
“Caregiver education shouldn’t be an afterthought or a side note—it should be central to how we think about treatment delivery,” said Scheer. “Our data suggests that when caregivers are equipped with the right tools and feel supported in a collaborative environment, the entire treatment ecosystem becomes more effective.”
This shift in thinking may have ripple effects beyond ACES. As insurance providers, clinicians, and policymakers seek to improve access and outcomes in autism care, there may be growing interest in replicating or adapting similar network-based training models.
ACES hopes that by publishing these findings and continuing to refine the CCN, they can contribute to a broader transformation in how autism services are designed and delivered.
ACES plans to expand the CCN further in the coming year, building on early success and integrating new technology to support remote participation. The organization is also investing in ongoing research to track long-term outcomes and identify additional factors that can boost training effectiveness.
“We’re just scratching the surface,” Scheer said. “As we collect more data and hear more from the families we serve, we’ll continue refining this model. But what’s clear is that caregivers don’t just want support—they thrive when they’re part of a learning community.”
For families navigating the complexities of autism, that community could make all the difference.
