evidence-based - secret agent society

There is a reason that we choose to teach social skills and emotional regulation skills using the curriculum of Secret Agent Society.

It's because there is no other couse for children with Autism that we are aware of that is so clearly road-tested to be this effective.

Here is the evidence-base:

Beaumont, R. (2015). The Secret Agent Society social-emotional skills training program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The Australian Clinical Psychologist, 1(2), 27-29.

Beaumont, R., Hinton, S., and Sofronoff. (2018). The Secret Agent Society: Upskilling Teachers in the Delivery of a Game-Based Social Skills Youth Program. In D. Mentor (Ed.). Computer Mediated Learning for Workforce Development (pp 22-40). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. ISBN: 978152254110

Beaumont, R., Pearson, R., and Sofronoff, K. (2019). A novel intervention for child peer relationship difficulties: The Secret Agent Society, Journal of Child and Family Studies, 28(11), 3075-3090. DOI: 10.1007/s10826-019-01485-7

Beaumont, R., Rotolone, C., & Sofronoff, K. (2015). The Secret Agent Society social skills program for children with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders: A comparison of two school variants. Psychology in the Schools, 52(4), 390-402. DOI: 10.1002/pits.21831

Beaumont, R, Smith-Merry, J., Costley, D., Howlin, P., Sofronoff, K., Roberts, J……Einfeld, S. (2019). Implementation, evaluation and maintenance of a social emotional skills training program for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder in a specialist school setting. International Journal of Special Education, 34(1), 95-108.

Beaumont, R., & Sofronoff, K. (2008). A multi-component social skills intervention for children with Asperger syndrome: The Junior Detective Training Program. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49(7), 743-753.

Beaumont, R., Walker, H., Weiss, J., & Sofronoff, K. (2021). Randomized controlled trial of a video gaming‑based social skills program for children on the Autism Spectrum. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51, 3637-3650. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04801-z

Costley, D., Baldwin, S., Clark, T., Howlin, P., Taffe, J. R., Beaumont, R., … Sofronoff, K. (2020). The Association Between Parent Engagement and Child Outcomes in Social Skills Training Programs : Discovering the Secret Agent Society in Partnership. Australasian Journal of Special and Inclusive Education, 44(1), 46–59. https://doi.org/10.1017/jsi.2020.2

Cullen, A.M. (2016). Emotion and social problem solving using the secret agent society computer game with a pupil with an autism spectrum disorder in an Irish mainstream school setting. LEARN, 38, 86-94.

Einfeld, S.L., Beaumont, R., Clark, T., Clarke, K.S., Costley, D., Gray, K.M…Howlin, P. (2018). School-based social skills training for young people with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 43(1), 29-39.

Lee, V., Roudbarani, F., Tablon Modica, P., Pouyandeh, A., & Weiss, J. A. (2022). Adaptation of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Autistic Children During the Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Program Evaluation. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 7(1), 76–93. https://doi.org/10.1080/23794925.2021.1941432

MacEvilly, D., & Brosnan, G. (2020). Adapting an emotional regulation and social communication skills group programme to teletherapy, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1017/ipm.2020.109

Maughan, A. L., & Weiss, J. A. (2017). Parental Outcomes Following Participation in Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(10), 3166+.

Mootz, C. A., Lemelman, A., Giordano, J., Winter, J., & Beaumont, R. (2022). Brief Report: Feasibility of Delivering the Secret Agent Society Group Social Skills Program via Telehealth During COVID-19: A Pilot Exploration. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05591-2

Sauvé, S., O’Haire, C., Hall, H., Lane, C & Hudson, B. (2018). Adapting a social skills intervention for children with autism within an urban specialty community clinic. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. DOI: 10.1080/23794925.2018.1483214

Sofronoff, K., Silva, J., & Beaumont, R. (2017). The Secret Agent Society social-emotional skills program for children with High- Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder: A parent-directed trial. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 32(1), 55-70. DOI: 10.1177/1088357615583467

Tan, Y.L., Mazzucchelli, T.G., & Beaumont, R. (2015). An evaluation of individually delivered Secret Agent Society social skills program for children with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders: A pilot study. Behaviour Change, 32(3), 159-174. doi 10.1017/bec.2015.7

Temkin, A. B., Beaumont, R., Wkya, K., Hariton, J. R., Flye, B. L., Sheridan, E., … Bennett, S. M. (2022). Secret Agent Society: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Transdiagnostic Youth Social Skills Group Treatment. Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-022-00919-z

Thomson, K., Burnham Riosa, P., & Weiss, J. (2015). Brief report of preliminary outcomes of an emotion regulation intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(1), 3487-3495.

Weiss, J., Thomson, K., Burnham Riosa, P., Albaum, C., Chan, V., Maughan, A., Tablon, P., & Black, K (2018). A randomized waitlist- controlled trial of cognitive behavior therapy to improve emotion regulation in children with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 59(11), 1180-1191. DOI:10.1111/jcpp.12915

Zengegui, E., Beaumont, R., Chiu, A.W., Schild, J., & Bennett, S.M. (2020). Evaluating Clinical outcomes in practice settings: Beyond the limits of grant funded clinical research. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 51(2), 145-155. DOI: 10.1037/pro0000276

Source:

The source for all these is: www.secretagentsociety.com/evidence

Learn more about it:

The "Secret Agent Society" program designed for individuals with Autism has gained considerable recognition for its strong evidence base and effectiveness in promoting social and emotional skills. This program has demonstrated remarkable results through rigorous research and is widely regarded as an evidence-based intervention.

One of the key strengths of the Secret Agent Society program lies in its foundation on solid empirical evidence. The creators of the program extensively researched and drew upon established principles in psychology and child development. This evidence-based approach ensures that the program is tailored to meet the specific needs of individuals with autism, providing targeted support for their social and emotional challenges.

The Secret Agent Society program employs a comprehensive methodology that encompasses various facets of social and emotional skills development. Through engaging and imaginative activities, participants are immersed in a spy-themed narrative that captures their interest and enthusiasm. The program incorporates structured teaching techniques, social stories, role-playing, and technology-based elements to enhance learning and skill acquisition. This multi-modal approach enables individuals to acquire and practice a wide range of social and emotional competencies in an enjoyable and interactive manner.

The effectiveness of the Secret Agent Society program is supported by robust evidence derived from empirical studies. Extensive research has been conducted to evaluate the program's outcomes, consistently demonstrating positive results. Participants have shown significant improvements in areas such as emotion recognition, social problem-solving, emotional regulation, and social competence. The program has also been found to reduce social difficulties, anxiety, and emotional challenges among individuals with autism.

Moreover, the Secret Agent Society program's success can be attributed to its holistic approach, addressing both social and emotional dimensions. The program not only focuses on enhancing social skills but also on fostering emotional intelligence and self-regulation. By combining these crucial elements, participants gain a comprehensive set of skills that enable them to navigate social interactions and manage their emotions effectively.

So, the Secret Agent Society program is founded on a strong evidence base and has proven its effectiveness through extensive research. By incorporating evidence-based practices, a comprehensive methodology, and a focus on both social and emotional skills, the program equips individuals with autism with the tools they need to thrive. The Secret Agent Society program not only enhances social and emotional competence but also promotes self-confidence, well-being, and overall quality of life for individuals with Autism.