SEED COVID-19 Impact Study

About the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED) – COVID-19 Impact Study
CDC’s Study to Explore Early Development (SEED) is a multi-year, multi-site study to help increase our understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. CDC, as part of SEED, Phase 3, is collecting information on the impact of COVID-19 on services, behaviors, and health during 2020 to help inform public health strategies for young children (aged 3–9 years) and their families, especially during public health emergencies.

Outcomes of Interest

• Among children
  • Education and use of remote learning
  • Changes in use of services and telemedicine
  • Experiences with testing and mitigation strategies
  • Changes in routines, health, and well-being
• Among families
  • Changes in household structure
  • Health and well-being
  • Finances, employment, and health insurance
  • Changes in routines and support
  • Experiences with COVID-19 infection
• Behavior problems and everyday life skills before and after COVID-19

Participants and Methods

• Participants – Families of children who participated in SEED Phase 3 before March 2020. The number of participants with ASD, other developmental disabilities, and from the general population will be about equal.
• Data collection
  • Standard measures of daily living skills and behavior problems.*
  • COVID-19 Impact Survey – questions addressing key outcomes (see above).

• Data collection timeframe – January 2021 to June 2021
• Study sites in SEED Phase 3 – Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, and Wisconsin

* Data on participants from before March 2020 will be used to measure changes from before to after the onset of the pandemic.