Objective: We sought to understand the experiences of Chinese-American and Korean-American parents of children with autism, including their initial concerns regarding their child's development, reported health professionals' responses to these concerns, diagnostic barriers, and factors associated with early autism diagnosis. Method: We designed a survey with support from an expert advisory group and Asian-American parents of children with autism. We measured 3 time points of diagnostic history, areas of parents' concerns, professionals' responses to their concerns, 15 types of diagnostic barriers, and professionals' helpfulness. We used descriptive and independent t tests to analyze data from 28 parents of children with autism. Results: Most of the parents (86%) had early concerns about their children's developmental delays and expressed their concerns to health professionals. However, approximately 60% of the parents reported that the professionals did not conduct developmental screenings or make referrals to specialists. The most common diagnostic barrier was the stress of the diagnostic process, followed by navigating health care systems. Parents who required interpreters noted poor quality and unavailability. Early child developmental concerns were associated with early autism diagnoses. Conclusion: Although many Chinese-American and Korean-American parents had early concerns regarding their child's development and shared their concerns with health care professionals, parents encountered many barriers, including the stress of the diagnostic process. Chinese-American and Korean-American parents with limited English proficiency required additional support. Health care professionals' active listening and responses to parents' concerns can promote early diagnosis.

Social and personal relationships are critical for transition-age youth (TAY) as they transition out of foster care to adulthood. Youth in foster care experience more challenges as they approach adulthood as a result of previous child maltreatment and lack of social support and resources compared to their peers. TAY with stable and supportive relationships exhibit improved emerging adulthood outcomes, including mental health, education, employment, and housing stability. Child welfare professionals play an important role as they facilitate this transition process through interacting with different stakeholders, including TAY, birth parents, foster parents, and service providers. This study explored the perspectives of child welfare workers and other professionals working with older youth and young adults with foster care experience. This qualitative study included 19 participants who had worked with youth in foster care aged 14 years and older and had worked in this field for over one year. Three themes were identified across the interviews: (1) navigating social and personal relationships during the transition out of foster care, (2) things did not go as hoped as TAY reconnected with family of origin, and (3) the roles of supportive relationships on TAY’s mental health. Findings from this study have several implications on cultivating and enhancing supportive relationships of TAY with foster care experience.