Trial of Raupi te Raupo, an early support programme for children with social communication differences.

Raupi te Raupo has been developed based on advice and suggestions from an autistic advisory group and a Maori advisory group. The name was generously gifted by Associate Professor Mere Skerrett (Ngai Tahu, Ngati Rakiamoa, Ngati Ruahikihiki, Ngati Mahuta, Ngati Unu, Ngati Maniapoto, Ngati Pikiao, Ngati Te Rangiunuora, Ngati Pukeko). Raupi is about nurturing, taking care of, and cherishing. The wetlands where Raupo (bulrush) grow are the lungs of the land and are essential for survival and wellbeing. Raupo had many traditional uses for Maori including as a covering for poi, in weaving, for canoe sails, and as food. As such, our tomorrow will be filled with a sense of wellbeing when we cherish our youngest ones just as we should cherish raupo. Raupi te Raupo will involve 17 sessions for the main participating whanau/family members over 20 weeks. The programme will involve weekly discussion sessions online over Zoom, which will be replaced once a month with a practical session, usually in the family home. Whanau/families can also choose "additional support people" who will attend four discussion sessions in total. The programme is delivered by trained coaches from a variety of backgrounds, including educational psychology, teaching, and music therapy, and by parents of autistic children. Correct use of Raupi te Raupo techniques during practical and discussion sessions will be monitored using a fidelity checklist. The discussion sessions will involve the coach and whanau/family members discussing strategies and reflecting on the most recent practical session. These sessions will last up to 1.5 hours. The child will not be present for these sessions, which will usually take place online via a platform such as Zoom, without the child present. These sessions will involve: (a) checking in at the beginning of the session and supporting with plans for referrals to other supports and agencies; (b) the coach offering information about strategy use in a variety of formats (e.g., written, illustrations, videos), (c) reflecting on videos of the whanau/family member or coach interacting with the child, and (d) selecting manageable goals for the whanau/family to focus on each week. In the monthly practical sessions, the coach and the whanau members will play and interact with the child in the home or another familiar, comfortable location for the child. These sessions will last up to 1 hour and the coach will support the whanau/family members by (a) checking in at the beginning of each session, (b) interacting with and getting to know the child, (c) modelling use of strategies with the child, (d) videoing interactions between the child and the coach and/or whanau/family members for later reflection, and (e) providing in-the-moment tips and support. Five key Maori values (Nga whanonga pono) underpin Raupi te Raupo. These values will be used to inform the coaches’ practice including the way in which they support the child and their family and whanau. Coaches will also support the family and whanau to embed nga whanonga pono with their child. Raupi te Raupo covers a range of content related to supporting the child and whanau/family. The coach and whanau/family will discuss possible strategies and content in the discussion sessions and then practice these in the practical sessions. Raupi te Raupo has 10 modules and family and whanau can generally decide which content is relevant to the child, and the order in which to discuss this content. The content in many modules will only be relevant to some whanau/families, and each will move through Raupi te Raupo at their own pace. The topics covered in Raupi te Raupo are as follows: - Understanding your child (compulsory) -Looking after yourself and finding support -Following your child’s interests and preferences -Co-regulation -Creating a safe and comfortable environment -Supporting communication -Visuals and social stories -Supporting learning and growth -Navigating everyday life and routines -Tips for the tricky stuff (Understanding behaviours that cause harm, Sleep issues, Feeding issues, Running away, Toileting, and Screentime)