# Identifying Effective Organizational Climate Embedding Mechanisms for Autism Interventions

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2024 · $36,199

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY /ABSTRACT
 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 44 children have autism.
Implementing evidence-based practices (EBPs) is crucial for their meeting their needs. However, there are
challenges to delivering EBPs for autistic children in routine services. This proposal leverages data from the
TEAMS (Translating Evidence-based Interventions for Autism: A Multi-Level Implementation Strategy) Hybrid
Type III trials. TEAMS aimed to improve implementation of EBPs by testing multi-level implementation
strategies in children’s mental health services (Study 1 PI: Brookman-Frazee, R01-MH111950) and schools
(Study 2 PI: Stahmer, R01-MH111981). Specifically, the TEAMS trials applied the Exploration, Preparation,
Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework and utilized the Leadership and Organizational Change for
Implementation (LOCI) strategy to test the effectiveness of two multi-component implementation strategies.
TEAMS targeted organizational and provider level mechanisms. The organization level implementation
strategy (TEAMS Leadership Institute, TLI), an adapted version of the Leadership and Organizational Change
for Implementation (LOCI) strategy, targeted organizational implementation leadership and climate as
mechanisms. The proposed study will supplement the primary study aims by exploring a new potential
mechanism of TLI – climate embedding mechanisms (CEM). The construct of CEM refers to tools that leaders
utilize to teach their organizations how to perceive, think, feel, and behave. This study aims to identify which
individual CEM are most impactful to promote successful implementation and whether use of specific CEM
mediates the associations between TLI and implementation and child outcomes.
 The objective of this NRSA application is to foster my development as an implementation scientist with a
focus on organizational implementation factors and autism services research. The proposed project will
examine climate embedding mechanisms as potential mechanisms of action of an organizational
implementation strategy within two linked randomized controlled trials. Specifically, Aim 1 will identify individual
climate embedding mechanisms associated with implementation (provider) and clinical (child) outcomes. Aim 2
will utilize quantitative methods to examine whether the individual climate embedding mechanisms identified in
Aim 1 mediate the effects of TLI on implementation and clinical outcomes. Lastly, Aim 3 will use qualitative and
mixed methods to complement and expand quantitative findings on additional climate embedding mechanisms
and explain how individual mechanisms facilitated implementation of autism EBPs. The present proposal
represents an important step in further understanding mechanisms of organizational implementation strategies.
With support of my mentoring team, this proposal will launch my development toward a career as an
independent implementation scientist focusing on organizational level...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10928747
- **Project number:** 5F31MH135638-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Elizabeth Rangel
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $36,199
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-06 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10928747

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10928747, Identifying Effective Organizational Climate Embedding Mechanisms for Autism Interventions (5F31MH135638-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10928747. Licensed CC0.

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