School of MedicineBetty Irene Moore School of NursingMedical GroupMedical Center
About UC Davis HealthOffice of the Vice ChancellorFacts and Figures150th Anniversary
Points of DistinctionAwards and HonorsStrategic Plan
Upcoming EventsContact UsGiving
Primary and Specialty Care
Find a Doctor or ProviderOpen EnrollmentPrimary CareSpecialty CareMedical Center
Featured Clinical Programs
Comprehensive Cancer CenterChildren's HospitalBirth CenterHeart and Vascular ServicesMIND InstituteTelehealth ServicesComprehensive Surgical ServicesPrimary CareSee All Clinical Services ...
Other Clinical Resources
Accepted Health Plans MyUCDavisHealth (formerly MyChart)Clinic LocationsTelehealth Video VisitsTelehealth Express CareOur Safety and Quality CommitmentPhysician Referrals
Comprehensive Cancer CenterCenter for Healthcare Policy and ResearchInstitute for Regenerative Cures
MIND InstituteBetty Irene Moore School of Nursing ResearchReducing Health DisparitiesSee All Research Programs ...
Other Research Resources
Clinical and Translational Science CenterClinical Trials OfficeFind a StudyHuman Subjects Research - IRB AdministrationResearch Training and Career DevelopmentSchool of Medicine Office of ResearchUC Davis Office of Research
AdmissionsDegree ProgramsAcademic DepartmentsAlumni AssociationOffice of the Dean
AdmissionsDegree ProgramsFrequently Asked QuestionsAlumniOffice of the Dean
Other Programs and Training
Center for Health and TechnologyCenter for Professional Practice of NursingCenter for Simulation and Education EnhancementClinical Pastoral EducationContinuing Medical Education
Dietetic Internship ProgramGraduate Medical Education – Residencies and FellowshipsHealth Informatics ProgramHealth Sciences LibrariesResearch Education and Career DevelopmentStem Cell Training Program
Advisers and Friends
National Board of AdvisorsCommunity Advisory Board
Community Engagement HighlightsOur Commitment to the UnderservedCommunity Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)CHNA Implementation StrategyPrinciples of CommunityGovernment and Community Relations
Health Sciences DevelopmentPublic Affairs and Marketing
Latest NewsNoticias en EspañolFeature StoriesBlogs and PodcastsVideosSocial MediaPublicationsFor JournalistsPublic Reporting
Jobs at UC Davis Health
All UC Davis Health Staff Job OpportunitiesNurse Recruitment at UC Davis HealthBetty Irene Moore School of NursingNursing Volunteer Clinical FacultySchool of Medicine Faculty RecruitmentSchool of Medicine Residency and Fellowship Programs
Working at UC Davis Health
Benefits OverviewPeople with PurposeTemporary Employment ServicesCampuses and Communities
Other UC Jobs
UC Davis CampusUniversity of California
Program helps over 400 families navigate autism resources ...
MIND InstituteJuly 25, 2022
Program helps over 400 families navigate autism resources and services
By Marianne Russ Sharp
UC Davis MIND Institute's Family Navigators offer free guidance during overwhelming time
(SACRAMENTO)
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
The team also offers a support group focused on self-care for parents and caregivers, called Get Mindful. The idea came from Family Navigator participants who expressed an interest in learning strategies for self-care. The group teaches coping skills and well-being and provides an opportunity to learn and practice mindfulness strategies for stress management. It's offered over 10 weekly sessions. The group is free, but enrollment is required. Email cparikh@ucdavis.edu for more information.
All of the parent support groups, as well as the mentoring offered through the program are aimed at building community.
"We're great at research, we have great providers and clinicians, and we do a really, really good job in the building. But families leave the building and go into the real world," Stewart explained. "The real world is messy, and it's not as supported or safe and building that community out in the real world. Understanding of disability and acceptance of neurodiversity is so critical. It takes a community to support all of us."
Nicole Papp says that's the sort of support she experienced through the Family Navigator Program.
"They were very, very compassionate. My first navigator really listened to everything I had to say, and you could tell she genuinely cared what I was feeling. I never felt like a burden."
Learn more about the Family Navigator program here.
The generosity of donors helps the MIND Institute enhance and expand family support resources like the Family Navigator program. Donations in support of the program can be made online through our website. For more information about donating, please contact Alexa Adams at (279) 210-8548 or lexadams@ucdavis.edu.
The UC Davis MIND Institute in Sacramento, Calif. was founded in 1998 as a unique interdisciplinary research center where families, community leaders, researchers, clinicians and volunteers work together toward a common goal: researching causes, treatments and potential prevention of challenges associated with neurodevelopmental disabilities. The institute has major research efforts in autism, fragile X syndrome, chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Down syndrome. More information about the institute and its Distinguished Lecturer Series, including previous presentations in this series, is available on the Web at mindinstitute.ucdavis.edu.
Children's HealthGeneral Health NewsMIND Institute
See our media contacts page
Virtual Toy Drive raises more than $28K
Annual conference to investigate fragile X premutation
Five faculty members make list of world's top female scientists
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.:
hs-publicaffairs@ucdavis.edu
After business hours, holidays or weekends:
916-734-2011 (ask for public information officer)
Using our name
Parking for media