To Examine the Effectiveness of Available Support Services for Families of Children with Autism: A Case of the Caleb Centre for Children with Autism in Kabwe District of Zambia

This study examined the effectiveness of support services for families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) provided by the Caleb Centre in Kabwe, Zambia. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study assessed the impact of the Centre's services on parents' emotional well-being, children's social skills, and family dynamics. The study used structured questionnaires, administered to 40 parents and caregivers, 71% being females with some level of tertiary education randomly selected from local communities of Kabwe District. The Study explored perceptions on social support. Level of involvement, social networking and parents attitudes towards available support services rendered by the Caleb Center for Autism. and found that the Centre's services had a positive impact on families and the children through the implemented child Centred developmental based curriculum evidenced by the reported milestones achieved. Parents demonstrated a positive attitude towards the services, significantly 96.8% affirmed their belief and confidence in services, with 87.1% affirming the critical role of counselling and awareness interventions in their lives and families as the Centre continues to serve more than 192 children, indicating a high demand for ASD services. The study concludes that local support interventions are making a positive impact, but demand exceeds supply. Recommendations include continued support through collaborations and partnerships, linking parents to government services, strengthened advocacy and resource mobilization, formalization of evidence-based interventions, and empowerment of families as primary care systems. The study highlights the importance of support services for families affected by ASD and the need for increased resources and infrastructure to meet the growing demand.