#dfusion

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Supporting Autistic* Young Adults in Building Healthy Relationship Skills

*A note about language: In the post and in our presentation, we chose to use identity first language (ex: autistic person) rather than person-first language (ex: person with autism) based on feedback from our participants, advisors, and focus group members. Though this language is not yet standard in academic or professional spaces, there is significant evidence suggesting it is preferred by the majority of autistic young adults.

Check out our #YTHLive 2021 Presentation where we share the results and learnings from our first project to help build the relationship and independent living skills of autistic young adults.

With the help of an amazing cast of advisors, focus group participants, and actors, we developed 20 Microskill™ training videos to build relationship skills, such as how to deal with put-downs and how to give and ask for an apology.

We piloted the resource with 17 autistic young adults and saw a significant improvement (p=.000) in their skill usage in both skills from their pre-roleplay to their post roleplay. We also saw significant improvement (p=.001) in self-assessed skill level for two of our skills, giving and asking for an apology.

We are thrilled to have the opportunity to integrate all the amazing feedback we received from our participants into our Phase II study, which will include 150+ videos and a randomized controlled trial with 200 participants. This will include:

An emphasis on the celebration of autistic identities, the centering of autistic voices, and the use of concepts developed and supported by autism self-advocates.

Materials that do not pressure autistic individuals to behave neurotypically or suppress their autistic traits.

Videos on a broad range of relationship types including partners, coworkers, roommates, hook-ups, bosses, etc.

The addition of self-advocacy & activism skills, employment & educational skills, relationship transition skills, and skills for navigating power dynamics.

A set of videos intended to be viewed and discussed with neurotypical peers/family covering communication needs and ways to “meet in the middle.”

We are excited to continue this work with passionate and out-spoken young adults in the autistic community!

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dfusion Wins Gold!

dfusion is Honored in 23rd Annual Digital Health Awards® Spring 2021 Session

dfusion of Scotts Valley, CA was selected as a gold medal winner in the 23rd annual Digital Health Awards® program. This competition – held each spring and fall – recognizes the world’s best digital health resources. The program is organized by the Health Information Resource Center (HIRC), a national clearing house for professionals who work in consumer health fields. dfusion’s entry – SkillFlix® for Parents IDD – received a Gold Award in the category “web-based digital health interactive content/rich media.”

SkillFlix for Parents IDD, a patented training technology, uses streaming video models to hone parents’ skills for communicating about healthy relationships and sex with their teens who have mild cognitive impairment and/or are on the autism spectrum. The ultra-short Microskills® videos model parent communication with teens who have reciprocal verbal communication skills.

“It’s an honor to have SkillFlix IDD chosen for a gold medal, the highest award, from more than 700 entries judged by a panel of distinguished experts in digital health media,” said Regina Firpo-Triplett, CEO of dfusion. dfusion builds upon science-based behavior change models and learning theories to facilitate behavior change for health, prevention, and adherence. Current scientific research on effectiveness guides development and adaptation of interventions for heightened relevance and impact.  

For more information:

SkillFlix IDD – www.dfusioninc.com/skillflix/

dfusion – www.dfusioninc.com

Digital Health Awards – https://healthawards.com/dha/index.html

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Improving the Lives of Young Adults on the Spectrum

In September 2020, dfusion kicked off SkillTalk for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder, our 5th fantastic project involving young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities! This project is particularly exciting because it will be our first training tailored specifically for young adults with ASD, while past projects have worked with parents, teachers, and caretakers. It is also unique because unlike many other programs supporting the independence of young adults with ASD, this training focuses very specifically on relationship skills rather than more general social skills related to the activities of daily living. Research shows that adults with ASD have relatively few close friendships compared to their neurotypical peers and often experience feelings of social isolation and loneliness (Billstedt et al., 2007; Eaves & Ho, 2008; Howlin et al., 2004; Liptak, Kennedy, & Dosa, 2011; Whitehouse et al., 2009; Orsmond, Krauss, & Seltzer, 2004).

Especially during these strange and potentially isolating times, a lack of healthy relationships for young adults with ASD can have a significant impact on their well-being and independence as a young person. The SkillTalk YA ASD video training library is being created to support the independence of young adults with a series of 20 initial videos designed to build MicroSkills related to developing and sustaining healthy relationships across the spectrum of relationships, including work, friendships, romantic, and sexual relationships.

We are grateful to our expert advisors, Peter Gerhardt, Laura Graham-Holmes, Jan Johnson-Tyler, Shana Nichols and Emily Rothman, and the young adults who are part of the project.

SkillTalk: Using Streaming Video for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder to Build Microskills to Develop and Sustain Relationships for Healthy and Independent Living

Funded by National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) Grant # 90BISA0037-01-00

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Sex Ed For All & Disabilities

This May, Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month became Sex Ed for All Month. Embraced by organizations the likes of Advocates for Youth, the Guttmacher Institute, Healthy Teen Network, Planned Parenthood, Power to Decide, SIECUS and others, this name change is in recognition that teens’ sexual health needs aren’t limited to pregnancy prevention and that all teens deserve to receive comprehensive sexual health education.

One group that has consistently been left out of the conversation when it comes to sexual health are those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For decades people have tended to think of those with disabilities as either nonsexual or hypersexual, and in either case they have received limited sexuality education if any at all. Sexuality is a universal part of the human experience, however, and this lack of education contributes to individuals with disabilities being at risk for the negative health outcomes associated with a lack of sexual health education: unintended pregnancy, STD infection, and sexual coercion and abuse. For this reason, it is critical that this vulnerable population of teens, like all teens, receive quality sexuality education both in and out of the classroom.

To that end, dfusion is happy to share that our work is focused on just that. We currently have two active projects in which we’re developing online resources to support and encourage parents of youth with intellectual and developments disabilities to start the ongoing conversation with their teens and preteens about relationships and sexuality. Building on our SkillFlix™ model that demonstrates how to perform skills using short video clips, we’re providing parents examples of how to start and continue these challenging conversations so they’ll feel prepared to do so.

We’re excited to be part of the movement to improve access to sexual health education, and are proud to join our colleagues in advocating for Sex Ed For All.

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Our Incredible First 5 Years

In March of 2014, dfusion was born from the vision of ETR to create a partner who could advance health equity through the creation of innovative, science-based products.

Fast forward five years, and that vision has become a thriving company that is growing not only in size but in its national reputation.

When dfusion was formed, no one could have dreamed of the accomplishments it would see in just half a decade. These include 25 grant and contract awards; two patents and two trademarks pending; a 2018 National Health Information award; more than a dozen national professional presentations; and four prototypes advancing to full products, just to name a few.

Our first grant came in September 2014. Awarded by the National Institutes of Health, the project was an HIV prevention blended learning prototype for teens. One of our recent awards came in October 2018 -- a CDC contract to create Harm Reduction Kits for pharmacy distribution to people who inject drugs. From mobile app and video-based training development to feasibility pilots and rigorous evaluations, we focus on science-driven results, and work toward creating products that make a difference in health and well-being. More than 75% of dfusion's work focuses on the vulnerable and underserved populations, including trans women, young black men who have sex with men, people living with HIV, rural Latinx families, and parents with youth on the spectrum.

We've seen a steady growth curve, with much of our revenue coming from funding from the National Institutes of Health. And we expect that growth to continue. It's been an exciting ride, and one that wouldn't be nearly as fruitful if not for the dedication of longtime dfusion staff, including CEO Regina Firpo-Triplett, Vice President Tamara Kuhn, Operations Manager Erica Marsh, and Project Coordinator Brittany Lucas, as well as the many interns and staff members who have helped along the way.

So here's to our first five years and we look forward to the next five years as we make our products available to the individuals, communities, and health systems where they can make a difference.

Bob Keet, MD (far right), founding Board Member of dfusion, celebrated with guests.

Staff: Tamara Kuhn, Erica Marsh, and Brittany Lucas (left) are acknowledged by CEO, Regina Firpo-Triplett, for their contributions to build dfusion.

Dr. Cynthia Gómez, dfusion’s newest Board Member; Jennifer Larkin of Santa Cruz County Health Department; Dr. Karin Coyle, ETR’s Chief Science Officer.

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The Truth about our HIV Apps

dfusion has received national attention for its National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded work to advance HIV prevention in communities disproportionately impacted by the HIV epidemic, including transgender women and young Black gay and bisexual men. We are pleased to have federal support for these innovative projects, and would like to clarify some misinformation that has been presented in the media.

The Promoting Sexual Health Project [1] (also referred to as 3T) is developing a science-based mobile app to provide young Black gay, bisexual and same-gender loving men, ages 14-17, with information and skills to make healthy sexual decisions, develop healthy relationships and prevent the spread of HIV. Far from a “sex app” or “hook-up app,” the health promotion intervention will be comprised of several activities, including a social media simulation which mimics social and dating apps, to allow the users to practice healthy and prevention-oriented communication skills related to safer-sex practices and healthy relationships.

The Transwomen Connected Project [2] is developing a mobile app using a strengths-based approach to building transgender women’s ability to protect their sexual health. It will include a variety of educational activities and provides networking capabilities so women can connect with each other to share ideas, facilitate access to services and support healthy behavior.

dfusion, a small woman-run business in the San Francisco Bay Area, is committed to developing science-driven innovations to improve health and well-being for a variety of audiences. dfusion’s products are informed by the latest scientific research about what works for heightened relevance and impact. Staffed by a team of nationally recognized public health and social and behavioral scientists, the organization leverages technology to bring science-based research to practice.  

For more information, contact Regina Firpo-Triplett at [email protected].

[1] Funded by the National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities, under grant #2R44MD010324. The views expressed here and content presented within the project do not necessarily reflect the views of NIH or NIMHD.

[2] Funded by the National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities, under grant # 1R43MD012279. The views expressed here and content presented within the project do not necessarily reflect the views of NIH or NIMHD.

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Unplug to Unleash Your Creativity

The latest scientific research shows strong connections between the parts of our brain associated with rest and creativity. Divergent thinking – the technical term for creativity – is more likely to occur when the brain is in its resting state. In this context, the term “rest” means that your brain is not being subjected to external demands for attention. For example, when you daydream, “zone out,” or let your mind wander free. Recent studies show that this type of activity occupies up to 50% of our waking time!

The brain’s default mode network (DMN) kicks in at these times. Far from resting, your DMN is highly metabolically active and involves interconnections between numerous parts of your brain. Although mind wandering can have severe consequences (e.g., car crashes), it must also have some significant benefits; otherwise, it would not have persisted. In fact, scientists believe the DMN developed fairly recently in our evolutionary history.

Recent studies show that mind wandering does indeed have significant benefits, including boosting creativity. Study participants generated more creative solutions after being giving a break with an undemanding task known to stimulate mind wandering. They also generated more creative insights (“aha” moments) for solving social problems.

It only takes a few idle moments to activate your DMN. So set aside a few moments each day to allow your brain to wander free. Put down your smartphone. Turn off the TV. Close your office door. Let your mind go on a journey of its own. You may be surprised where it takes you!

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7 Tips to Maximize Your Summer Intern’s Experience

By Lizanne Reynolds, JD Research Assistant (& former intern), dfusion

It’s that time of year when summer interns stream into the workplace. Be sure you are prepared to maximize the experience for both parties.

Summer internships play a vital role in helping students decide whether they want to work for you after they graduate. Likewise, many organizations use internships as a trial period to evaluate potential new hires. Even if you’re not in the market for new hires at the moment, or you decide that this particular intern doesn’t suit your needs, be mindful that interns routinely share information about prospective employers with others at their schools and on social media. Making the most of your intern’s experience will pay dividends in the long-run.

Here are some tips to make the most of the situation for you and your interns:

1. Give Them Significant Work

Some organizations assign menial tasks to interns either because they underestimate their skills, or don’t take the time to identify more weighty tasks for them to perform. This is shortsighted, particularly if you are trying to evaluate their suitability for future employment. Top prospects are unlikely to be willing to toil away at drudge work based on the speculative hope of more interesting work assignments in the future.

2. Customize Their Work

Try to give interns at least some work assignments that align with their interests. This will significantly increase their engagement with their work and the organization. It also demonstrates that you care about their specific interests, and increases the likelihood that they will consider you a good future employer.    

3. Match Them with A Peer Buddy

Each workplace is a complex ecosystem with its own distinct subculture. Assigning each intern a peer buddy to help them navigate your workplace culture can make all the difference in their summer experience. This is particularly important for interns from underrepresented racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic backgrounds.

4. Have Regular Check-Ins  

Schedule (and stick to) regular check-in meetings with each intern to assess how things are going and make any necessary course corrections. Otherwise, you may not receive important feedback until it’s too late. These meetings are also a good way to demonstrate that their job satisfaction is important to you.  

5. Provide Access to Influencers

Your interns are probably not just considering whether they want an entry-level job with your organization; they are also assessing future career opportunities with you. So give them plenty of formal and informal opportunities to interact with the movers and shakers in the organization. Invite them to meetings involving folks at various levels of the organization. Social activities organized by the organization, like lunches, Friday afternoon happy hours, and outside activities can also provide good opportunities for these contacts.  

6. Provide Constructive Feedback

For many interns, this internship may be their first experience in a professional setting. They need, and deserve, regular constructive feedback on all aspects of their performance. This should include their work performance, professionalism, interactions with coworkers, and any other relevant issues. For example, some young adults have never learned how to properly shake hands, the importance of making eye contact, appropriate workplace attire, or proper workplace email etiquette. While it may be awkward, failing to provide this feedback puts them at a disadvantage.

7. Arrange Intern Bonding Activities

Organizations that receive top ratings for their intern programs often provide intern class bonding activities. Building strong bonds between interns can significantly increase their desire to accept a permanent job with you. Having good relationships with coworkers is particularly important to Millennials. You don’t need to break the budget with these activities. For example, movie nights, picnics, and minor league baseball games are fun and relatively inexpensive ways to promote cohesion.