Thank you for learning about
Unstuck and On Target at the
ABCT 57th Annual Convention

Symposium 122 - Implementing Executive Functioning Interventions and Supports in the Community for Youth and Their Families

Chair: Laura Anthony, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – University of Colorado, School of Medicine

Discussant: Brenna Maddox, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Presenter: Laura Anthony, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – University of Colorado, School of Medicine

Presenter: Cara Pugliese, Ph.D. – Children’s National Hospital

Presenter: Lauren Kenworthy, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Childrens National Hospital

Presenter: Kelsey S. Dickson, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – San Diego State University

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Executive functions (EFs) are a set of self-regulatory abilities that are essential to mental and physical health, well-being, self-determination and succesful functioning. Good EFs enable us to solve problems flexibly, set our own goals and make plans to reach those goals. This potent cognitive function is malleable, and therefore a potential target for intervention. Unstuck and On Target is an evidence-based EF intervention, originally designed to be implemented in elementary schools. A current focus of our projects and those of our partners has been to increase access to the low-cost intervention by expanding our reach and creating free online trainings and supports. To that end, it has recently expanded into middle and high schools, as well as been adapted for community-based clinical contexts. Our panel presents novel findings from diverse, community-based state-of-the-art research and implementation projects targeting:

• Implementation of Unstuck and On Target in 230 Colorado and Virginia elementary schools with students with either ADHD or autism spectrum disorder using a variety of implementation supports, like a free online CE training for school implementers, a website with free resources, and coaching sessions

• Results from a hybrid effectiveness/implementation trial of Unstuck and On Target in high schools in Virginia and Maryland with students on the autism spectrum

• A contextual adaptation of Unstuck and On Target for community mental health centers in California

• Results from a community trial with 100 families of short, free videos and tip sheets that cover easy to implement, general EF supports 

Our discussant, an implementation scientist, will focus on how:

1. Designing for dissemination from the outset of intervention development, combined with

2. Ongoing revision of interventions in response to community feedback and

3. Identifying facilitators to overcome community-identified barriers to implementation

can be applied in attendee’s current work-whether research, dissemination, or clinical practice that seeks to expand beyond the therapy room walls.

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