TRIAD Families First Program

TRIAD’s Families First Program is a free program for caregivers of young children (ages 2-7) newly diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The primary goal is to equip caregivers with practical tools to support their child, to provide resources to more easily apply strategy and planning ideas, and to give caregivers an opportunity to meet other caregivers with similar questions or concerns. For more information about the Families First Program, please review our recent 10-year summary [PDF].

See below for what we are offering at this time. VUMC COVID restrictions will be in place. In-person workshops subject to cancellation. Additional virtual resources can be found here.

Summer Schedule ▼

Thurs., June 16, 2022
Understanding and Building Communication [Virtual]
12:00pm-1:00pm CST
Sat., June 18, 2022*
Doctors, Therapists, and Schools, Oh My! Building an Effective Team [In-Person]
9:00am-12:00pm
Fri., July 15, 2022
Engagement During Community Outings [Virtual]
12:00pm-1:00pm CST
Sat., July 23, 2022*
Connecting With Your Kids: Building Positive Play Skills and Sibling Interactions [In-Person]
9:00am-12:00pm CST

*Due to continued restrictions, childcare will not be offered at in-person workshops.

Registration is required. Virtual log-in and in-person location information will be provided once you have registered. In-person workshops will be held in Nashville, TN.

Regístrar aquí para talleres presenciales

Regístrar aquí para seminarios web virtuales

Spanish interpretation available at all events. Interpretación en español disponible en todos los eventos.

Quick Tip Videos ▼

Families First will highlight a topic of interest each month, with new resources posted the first Friday of each month.

Setting up for Success [May 2022]

Social Stories Quick Tips [May 2022]

Scheduling Mealtime [April 2022]

View Ask an Expert - April

Scheduling Mealtime from Vanderbilt Kennedy Center on Vimeo.

Sleep Environment [March 2022]

Following the Lead [January 2022]

Self-care Maintenance [January 2022]

Mindfulness Practice [December 2021]

Self-Compassion Break [December 2021]

Self-care Importance [December 2021]

Toilet Training Readiness [November 5, 2021]

Promote an Idea [October 1, 2021]

Building An Effective Team [August 6, 2021]

Archived Online Resources ▼

Previous webinar recordings and quick tip videos are available here organized by topic. Webinars are posted as they’re completed so continue to check back for new updates.

Online Education Portal ▼

TRIAD offers free Brief Online Training Sessions (BOTS) to provide information on evidence-based practices for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Check our online learning portal to access these free trainings and resources on topics designed for parents and other caregivers! To access, register at: triad.vkclearning.org following the instructions below. If you already have an online learning account login here.

Go to triad.vkclearning.org
Create a free account by clicking on "Register." You will create a username and password. Fill out the form and select "TRIAD" under the doorway. You will receive an email verification. Once you do, click the link to verify your account and log in.
Click on "Caregivers" to access the Caregiver Training Modules or on another category to access other BOTs.
Click "open" for the series you would like to watch.
Click "launch" for the training you want to watch and enjoy!

Need help?

Subscribe here for Families First Updates

Contact Information

Local: (615) 322-7565
Toll-free: (877) ASD-VUMC (273-8862)
E-mail: familiesfirst@vumc.org