When Nicole Papp's oldest son received an autism diagnosis several years ago, there was a steep learning curve. It was a challenge to figure out what therapies and services were available to him.
"It's a whole new world. I had no idea where to start. I didn't know what it meant in terms of school. I didn't know who to call. I didn't know anything," explained Papp, who lives in Vacaville.
A few years later, her younger son was also diagnosed as autistic, this time at the UC Davis MIND Institute. Even though she was now very familiar with autism, finding services was still a struggle. Luckily, she was referred to the MIND Institute's Family Navigator Program, which assists families after an autism diagnosis.
"They've been very helpful because they really, really know the process. They know what can help. And they just are very caring. I hadn't really had that before, where somebody knew what they were talking about, and they actually cared that they were talking about it with me," said Papp, of her experience with the program.
Meeting a need for support and community
Since it launched four years ago, the Family Navigator Program has helped more than 400 families like the Papps. It's funded through the MIND Institute's Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and is free for families.
"It was like a 'Field of Dreams' — If you build it, they will come. And that's exactly what happened to us," said Catharine Mikitka, a former family support coordinator at the MIND Institute who helped create the program in 2018. Mikitka retired last year and is thrilled at its success.
"We were hoping for 20 families our first year and we got 100, and it just grew and grew!" she exclaimed.
It's because they're meeting a real need, she says.
It was like a 'Field of Dreams' - If you build it, they will come. And that's exactly what happened to us." -Catharine Mikitka, former family support coordinator
It works like this: After a family receives a new autism diagnosis at the MIND Institute, a clinician refers them to the program, and a staff member reaches out to discuss care options, resources and next steps. The assistance is sustained for several months, and the new family may also be connected with another parent who has an autistic child who can serve as a mentor, called a navigator.
Currently the program receives six or seven referrals a week.
"We call and talk about how they're feeling about the diagnosis, what their support system is. We help them decide which county or regional agencies they should call, and we make sure they have phone numbers for speech therapists or other providers. It's about connecting all those resources. It can be overwhelming without a guide," Mikitka explained.
Erin Roseborough, a MIND Institute child life specialist, was also involved in the creation of the program. "Working in the clinic, we used to give families a resource list, but what they really needed was ongoing support, and someone to answer their questions during a stressful time. Navigators has provided that," she said.
Ongoing community support
"The most consistent feedback we hear is about not feeling alone in this process," said Robin Stewart, community programs coordinator for the Family Navigator Program and a licensed clinical social worker. "It's having someone who understands what it's like to have these complex emotions and to understand this very fragmented service system as well as help them build the community support that they need."
In addition to the main program, families are also invited to join the Family Navigator parent support group, which meets one Friday a month, from 9 – 10:30 a.m. The group is led by parent mentors, who answer questions and share experiences. People can join at any time.
More recently, the team launched a new support group geared toward parents of adult children and teens, called PACT, which also meets monthly on Fridays, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Both groups are open to anyone; you don't need to be a UC Davis patient to take part, but registration is required.
The most consistent feedback we hear is about not feeling alone in this process. It's having someone who understands what it's like to have these complex emotions and to understand this very fragmented service system as well as help them build the community support that they need." -Robin Stewart, licensed clinical social worker
