dfusion News

Headshots of the staff and interns who attended the interview training

Qualitative Interview Skills: How to Listen with Purpose  

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I have conducted hundreds of interviews with people from around the world – and before every new interview project I believe it is critical to review and discuss essential qualitative interview skills. I recently had the opportunity to lead a training session with dfusion staff and interns for exploratory interviews for SocialWise — our AI-enhanced conversation agent designed to help autistic young adults build social and communication skills. […]

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Fantasy Sports Math League: A Game-Changer for Math Education

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After two years of development, testing, research, and a lot of hard work alongside some incredible teachers, students, and partners, Fantasy Sports Math League Phase II is complete. This milestone marks the end of our ED/IES Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant, and we couldn’t be more proud of what this project became. Take a

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From Data to Manuscript: My MPH Internship in Substance Use & Autism Research at dfusion

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Guest Author: Muna Tamang is a Master of Public Health (MPH) student at San José State University. I am passionate about public health research, program evaluation, and using evidence to improve healthcare systems and health outcomes. As part of my MPH fieldwork, I had the opportunity to complete my internship at dfusion, where I applied

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Inside my MPH Internship: Improving Dental Care Access for Kids with Autism & IDD

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Guest author: Helina Iyob-Tessema, completed her internship at dfusion for her graduate studies in Master of Public Health at San Jose State University while also working as a pediatric dental resident with the University of California San Francisco. Who is dfusion? dfusion is a social and behavioral science R&D firm that creates innovative science-driven solutions to advance

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dfusion Wins Two 2026 Tools Competition Awards — AI Support for Autistic Young Adults

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We are absolutely thrilled to share some exciting news: dfusion has been recognized with not one, but two awards in The Learning Agency’s 2026 Tools Competition. We received the Growth Prize in the Building Pathways to Post-Secondary Success Track for SocialWise, and we are also honored to be recognized in the Dataset for Education Innovation

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Teachers Who Said Yes First – And Why They Were Right

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A Teacher Appreciation Week reflection from dfusion There is a particular kind of teacher we have been thinking about this week. Not the teacher of the year. Not the one with the most-pinned classroom on Pinterest. We are thinking about the teacher who, sometime in the last decade, looked at a piece of educational technology

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A phone screen showing SkillFlix for substance use providers working with autistic clients.

Autism and Substance Use Disorder: Closing the Treatment Gap with Better Counselor Training

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I worked as a co-occurring specialist for 5 years. I can’t remember an instance where I received any training in autism and linkage to SUD. I would definitely take part in a training that helps expand my knowledge and understanding of the link between SUD and Autism.” SUD Counselor Despite misperceptions about autism and substance

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Teach Environmental Health Justice in Middle School | Ground Truthers

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Celebrate Earth Day 2026 “Environmental progress is built through everyday action—from communities protecting ecosystems to innovators advancing solutions. Clean air, safe water, and climate resilience aren’t optional—they’re essential.” Environmental health impacts children in numerous ways, from the air in the hallway to the water in the school fountain. Bringing environmental health justice into the classroom

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Then and Now: How a Health Tech Startup Grew Into a Patented, Women-Owned Research Organization

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Twelve years ago, dfusion was two people working part-time, running on passion and a modest amount of startup funding. There was no office full of researchers, no patents, no trademark. Just a clear conviction that technology could move sexual and reproductive health forward in meaningful ways — and a willingness to bet on that idea.

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dfusion Turns 12: Resilience, New Ventures, and What Comes Next

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Twelve years isn’t a typical milestone. It’s not the flashy fifth or the triumphant tenth. But for dfusion, year 12 is the one we’ll remember most. This past year tested us in ways we didn’t see coming. Federal contracts were cancelled. Funding was delayed. Partner organizations we’d built relationships with over years were suddenly struggling

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