If you are an enrolled therapist in the TOUCAN Study, please select which intervention you are learning to be directed to more information, steps, and resources.

Unstuck & On Target

Unified Protocol for Children

Welcome

Welcome to the TOUCAN Study – Unstuck and On Target (UOT) training group! We’re excited to have you participate. This page will guide you through each step of the study and provide quick access to important links and resources. If you have not been communicated with about enrollment, or you are interested in enrolling, please visit this page to find out how to get started.

What is Unstuck and On Target? 

Unstuck is an intervention to teach kids how to be more flexible, planful, and goal directed to function better day to day. In other words, it aims to improve executive functioning skills. 

Unstuck was originally designed for delivery in school settings but has been adapted for delivery in mental health programs in partnership with providers with clients with executive functioning difficulties. 

This intervention includes five modules with 1-5 sessions per module. These sessions aim to increase cognitive flexibility, organization, planning, and emotion regulation abilities so that kids can more easily shift from topic to topic, task to task, consider new ideas or another person’s point of view, and function or behave independently at home, school and beyond! 

How was Unstuck Developed and Adapted? 

Unstuck is a cognitive-behavioral intervention collaboratively developed by executive functioning experts in collaboration and refined with community providers, autistic individuals, and their families. The version adapted for mental health settings was similarly developed in partnership with autism experts, community mental health providers, and caregivers of autistic youth. 

What is the Evidence for Unstuck? 

Unstuck is classified as an intervention with good quality evidence by the US Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Results from recent studies support its effectiveness for autism and ADHD when delivered by school staff in school settings. Preliminary data also support the feasibility and effectiveness of the adapted version of Unstuck for outpatient mental health settings.  

Who should use Unstuck?

Unstuck was systematically adapted to be used by mental health therapists and other staff providing psychotherapy in community outpatient mental health settings. The adapted version of Unstuck is a good fit for anyone providing outpatient psychotherapy to youth.

Your Steps to Participate 

Below are the general steps for participation. For a detailed description of these steps, please refer to the informational packet linked here

1. Complete Baseline Survey – Before beginning training, please complete your baseline questionnaire sent to your email. If you have not received this link or are unable to locate it, please contact [email protected].


2. Refer an eligible client – Eligible clients are 7-12 years old with documented or suspected autism.


3. Attend UOT Training – Participate in your scheduled training sessions to learn UOT strategies and tools. The study team will work with your clinic’s admin team to schedule this training.


4. Begin Using UOT Strategies – Start incorporating UOT techniques into your sessions with eligible clients.


5. Attend Ongoing Consultation – Join consultation calls for continued support, troubleshooting, and skill-building. 


6. Submit Session Recordings – Upload/select sessions as instructed to support the study’s learning goals.


7. Complete Follow-Up Surveys – You’ll be asked to complete brief surveys at different time points.


8. Optional: Participate in an Interview – Share your experience to help us improve implementation and training.

Important Links 

• Baseline Survey: [Insert Link] 
• Training Schedule & Zoom Links: [Insert Link]
• Session Recording Upload: [Insert Link]
• Consultation Schedule: [Insert Link]
• Follow-Up Surveys: [Insert Link] 
  

Timeline & Expectations

• Training and participation will occur over approximately [X weeks/months] 
• Time commitment includes training sessions, consultation calls, and brief surveys 
• You will receive compensation for completed study activities 

Need Help? 

If you have questions or need support at any point, please contact the TOUCAN Study team at:

[Email] | [Phone] 

Welcome

Welcome to the TOUCAN Study – Unified Protocol for Children (UP-C) training group! We’re excited to have you participate. This page will guide you through each step of the study and provide quick access to important links and resources. If you have not been communicated with about enrollment, or you are interested in enrolling, please visit this page to find out how to get started.

What is UP-C?

UP-C is a program designed to help kids better understand and manage their emotions, like anxiety, sadness, or frustration. It teaches practical skills for recognizing and being mindfully aware of emotions, thinking in more helpful and realistic ways, solving problems, and approaching situations they may have previously avoided. The UP-C also includes skills to support caregivers.

UP-C can be used with children from diverse backgrounds and is often implemented by therapists in mental health settings, schools, or community programs. It’s a transdiagnostic approach, meaning it’s effective for a range of emotional and behavioral concerns rather than focusing on just one specific diagnosis.

This intervention includes 15 sessions, divided into five  modules. These sessions aim to improve kids’ awareness of their emotions and body sensations, help them stay mindful and focused on the present, identity and change unhelpful ways of thinking, and choose different, more helpful responses when they feel strong emotions. These skills help reduce kids’ distress so they can function better at home, school, and with friends. 

How was UP-C Developed? 
UP-C was developed to address common emotional and behavioral challenges in a transdiagnostic way. Designed for kids aged 7 to 12, it uses age-appropriate language and activities to teach skills. Grounded in research and clinical trials, UPC provides evidence-based strategies to help children improve emotional regulation and overall well-being. 

What is the Evidence for UP-C? 
UP-C is backed by research showing it effectively reduces anxiety, depression, and emotional challenges by targeting common processes like emotion regulation and cognitive flexibility. Studies report that it also improves caregivers’ ability to tolerate distress and regulate their own emotions.

Who should use UP-C? 
UP-C is designed for use by mental health professionals, such as therapists, counselors, and psychologists, who work with children aged 7 to 12. It’s ideal for kids experiencing anxiety, depression, or other emotional challenges that impact their daily lives. UP-C can be applied in clinical, school, or community settings and is suitable for children from diverse backgrounds, with or without a formal diagnosis.

Thank you for your interest in the TOUCAN Study. TOUCAN is a research study focused on understanding how training mental health clinicians to use effective, research-supported interventions can improve care for children with executive functioning challenges, including autistic youth.

As part of this study, participating therapists receive training and support in evidence-based interventions designed to strengthen executive functioning and emotional regulation skills. We are interested in understanding how these strategies are implemented in real-world clinical settings and how they support both therapists’ practice and outcomes for the children and families they serve. We also value therapists’ perspectives and aim to learn from your experiences delivering these approaches in your everyday work.

Your involvement in the study may include:

• Participating in training and consultation sessions
• Allowing therapy sessions to be recorded
• Completing brief questionnaires
• Participating in optional interviews about your experience

Participation is always voluntary, and all information is kept confidential.

Check out our flyers below!

How to Participate

If you’re a caregiver interested in participating in the TOUCAN Study, here’s how to get started:

• Share your interest securely – You can use our secure online system (REDCap) to share your contact information and indicate your interest in participating. A member of our research team will follow up with next steps.

Request More Information