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  • Service Coordination is Both Wonderful & Challenging!(current)

A day in the life of a service coordinator: Jenni arrives at work early to prepare for an initial assessment, making sure the paperwork is ready in case an IFSP Three Women Meetingis developed too. After the 2-hour assessment and IFSP meeting, she drives 40 minutes to her next visit with a family and their OT. The visits runs long as the family requests assistance with groceries to get them through the end of the month. Since they have no family nearby, Jenni offers to search for some resources and call the mother later. After a quick lunch in the car, Jenni heads back to the office where she finds 3 voicemail messages from a family and two service providers requesting IFSP meetings to review outcomes. She writes contact notes for the morning’s activities, returns the calls, makes an additional call to a family for her monthly contact, and does some research on local food pantries. She also sends the IFSP developed that morning to the physician and service provider agency so that the child’s speech therapy will start soon. In the midst of her busy day, she also receives two new referrals and is able to reach one of them to schedule an intake visit for next week. Before she leaves for the day, she calls the family she saw that morning with a list of phone numbers for local food pantries and promises to touch base with the family again tomorrow to see if they are able to find the help they need.

Whew! What a day, huh?

Service Coordination is Multi-Faceted

While not every day is like this, service coordinators are generally busy people. They have many roles they play including leader of the IFSP team. In some programs, they work in dual roles as both service providers (like educators or therapists) and service coordinators. They work with many different kinds of families, with service providers from different backgrounds, and within systems that have varying requirements for documentation, billing, team functioning, etc. They must be experts on the EI process and how to adapt it for each family. They must know community resources and how to help families access them. They need to plan their time efficiently for office time, travel, and visits with children and families. While juggling all of these realities, they must also be able to build strong, sensitive relationships with families and providers so that IFSPs are implemented in ways that meet the changing needs of children and families. It’s a multi-faceted job that requires a great deal of knowledge and skill!

It’s BOTH Wonderful & Challenging

When I think about being a service coordinator, I remember finding the job to be both wonderful and challenging, sometimes in the same day!  On the wonderrful side of things, here’s what I loved:

Building relationships with families that helped them grow – Service coordinators may not seem like teachers but they are. They help families learn skills like advocacy and how to find resources that families can use long after they leave the EI program.

No two days were ever the same – Everyday is different with new opportunities to see a child master a new milestone, help a parent achieve a goal, or help a team solve a problem.

Working with a team that focused on the child’s & family’s success – There was nothing better than observing and celebrating a child’s progress as a team (which of course included the family). Each of us played a part in something that could have a long-term impact on the child’s life and that was powerful.

Of course, there were challenges too. Sometimes the number of families I supported overwhelmed me or the resources I wished I had in my community just weren’t there. On other days, managing the paperwork or traveling a long distance to see a family who was not home were not my favorite parts of the job. Every job has it’s challenges, though. When the challenges got to me, I’d try to focus on the many positives, like the card I’d received from a family thanking me for my time with them or the picture another family sent me of their son on his first day of preschool. I knew I’d made a difference.

What do you like most about being a service coordinator? What do you find most challenging and why?

For more information about service coordination, visit the Service Coordination page on the VA Early Intervention Professional Development Center.

69 comments on “Service Coordination is Both Wonderful & Challenging!

  • Diana Cañas says:

    Good afternoon,

    That does sound like a busy day but she is doing so much good! Being a service coordinator seems to be a job for a caring and patient person. It requires a lot of time management and organization. I think what I would like the most about it is the aspect of helping families and their children. What I would find the most challenging is finding enough time in a day to help everyone. I worry i would take on too much.

    Thank you for all you do!

    Reply
  • Diana Panameno says:

    What I like the most about a service coordinator is the positive impact that is made on the family unit. Through their knowledge, hands-on approach, and willingness to help children and their family’s, the service coordinators are giving the family’s the resources and tools that allows them to support their children in ways that they may have not deemed possible. So, I like that through their services the service coordinators are increasing the parents and family’s confidence in their ability to care for their children on a day-to-day basis. Since this is a multi-faceted job, I believe that the most challenging thing for service coordinators would be making time for themselves while being part of a job that demands so much of their personal time to provide the best information, skills, and outcomes for the child’s and family’s best interest.

    Reply
  • Jenieve Chapa says:

    I am amazed at a service coordinators ability to multitask and fulfill several commitments they made. If I were to become a service coordinator, I believe the thing I would enjoy/love the most is the impact I know I am making on the child and family’s life. Additionally, I would enjoy the fact that each day is different, and everyday is a new opportunity to work on something new or learn something new. However, I do think it be easy to become overwhelmed. So personally, I would have challenges juggling my time and learning to prioritize each task as they come.

    Reply
    • I think the fact that you are aware of what your possible challenges may be would help you get off to the right start. Seeking out more experienced SCs who have time managmenent systems in place and who can give you ideas for how to prioritize is always a great way to begin.

      Reply
  • Cameron Kuehn says:

    I think that what I would like most about being a service coordinator would be the opportunity to positively impact families and children. To be able to observe the child grow each week and accomplish new things just seems like such a rewarding experience. I think the most challenging part of being a service coordinator would be leaving the family once your services are no longer needed. You spend so much time with the family that it seems very hard to not become attached.

    Reply
  • Hannah Fiske says:

    Although I am not a service coordinator and am only a student taking an Introduction to Childhood Interventions course, I believe there are several beauties of being a service coordinator from what I have learned. Service Coordinators have multiple roles; they are not just limited to performing one task. Instead, they have to be there for the family, listen to family issues, and allow them to grow. Building such strong relationships that help guide the child towards future success is the most rewarding. Watching the child’s successes, I imagine, is an incredibly satisfying feeling. The most challenging thing about being a service coordinator is that it is overwhelming because multiple families need much attention. Because ECI caters to the family, the service coordinator must go above and beyond to assist the family. Therefore, that can be taxing on the service coordinator always to be available.

    Reply
  • Kirsten Ellis says:

    I am currently not a Service Coordinator but after graduating in May I hope to start working as one back in my hometown. I find this position and work appealing and eye-opening. It allows the opportunity to help a family that is in need of such services but also gives the Service Coordinator the chance to build strong connections with the family and the child. I have always wanted to work with children and for the longest time I thought I wanted to be a pediatrician. However, I have recently realized that that path is not where my heart lies. I enjoy the time I spend with the children at a Child Development Center that I currently work at. While I will not necessarily be in a school setting in the future, I think this position would still allow me to be a teacher and role model for children in a capacity that is rewarding.

    Reply
  • Sophie says:

    Thank you so much for this blog post as it is an in-depth look into the everyday life of a service coordinator with both the highs and the lows. Something that excites me about hopefully being a service coordinator one day is how each day is different. I would love to be able to help underserved families find the resources they need to help their child reach their goals (whether it is a suitable speech therapist or formula). I look forward to building relationships with the family members and being someone who the parents feel comfortable to call at any time with their questions and concerns!

    Reply
  • Camila Martinez says:

    I think that what I would like the most about being a Service coordinator would obviously be able to help families that might be feeling lost and isolated, also the fact that you have to be very versatile and have to be able to not only work with a lot of different families but also with a lot of different providers and you get to experience a little bit of all aspects.
    The most challenging thing would be how busy it must be, as well as remaining judgement free and capable of helping their families not only set realistic goals but to reach them as well. There is also a lot of pressure because for a lot of families this might be their only hope.

    Reply
  • Sara Falberg says:

    Hi Dana,
    Thanks so much for sharing a typical day of a service coordinator, even though there’s no guarantee what each day will bring! While reading your blog post, it seems that as the day goes on, more and more challenges arise. It seems quite difficult to manage and remember each responsibility, does keeping a planner help with this? I would assume the most challenging aspect of this job is trying to best accommodate each family’s needs because no two families are the same. I am sure with all of these tasks at the hand of the service coordinator, one must be very clear headed and determined to find the most helpful solutions!
    Best,
    Sara Falberg

    Reply
  • Travon Brooks says:

    For me, the most compelling part of the job would be the satisfaction of helping families through what can be an overwhelming situation. The fulfillment of being able to make a difference in the lives of countless children would be what makes the day-to-day worthwhile. The challenge for me would be the fact that you wouldn’t be able to satisfy the needs of all when they need it. I’d assume you’d have to prioritize tasks based off of a myriad of reasons. There would also be this sense that you’d always be doing something. This role seems as though the work never stops which can be overwhelming without work-life balance.

    Reply
  • Chiamaka Molokwu says:

    I think being a service coordinator can be an exciting and fulfilling experience. You are making an impact on families’ lives and helping those who need it. It’s like an adventure every day and you never know what’s going to happen the following day. That being said, not knowing what to expect can also be a hassle. Therefore, it is important to be adaptable and quick-witted as a service coordinator. I think paying attention to detail is important as you will likely be working with many different families and with lots of information-filled paperwork. It can be easy to try and rush through things but knowing that you are dealing with people’s lives can help to keep you grounded.

    Reply
  • Maria Briones says:

    Being a service coordinator seems really challenging, but it also seems to be so worthwhile. Every day is a learning experience not just for the child and the families but for the service coordinator as well. I think working with children and being able to see their potential and how they progress is so fulfilling and amazing. It is important for the service coordinator to separate their work life from their work life, and they should take breaks when necessary. When working in service job like this, it is important to take care of yourself in order to be able to help others as best as you can.

    Reply
  • Yukta S says:

    I think the thing about service coordinators that amazes me the most is how diverse their jobs and tasks can be. As the post mentions, they have the responsibility of meeting with families, finding different resources and needs for the families, and collaborating with other intervention specialists! It seems like the job never gets boring, and I think that will keep me on my toes if I were to become a service coordinator. I think one challenge might be being able to juggle all of those various tasks and responsibilities, but I guess that just makes organization that much more important!

    Reply
  • Tamanna Kaur says:

    What do you like most about being a service coordinator? What do you find most challenging and why?

    Although I am not a service coordinator, I imagine it being a very rewarding experience. To be able to work with a family and help them with deciding services that would be best for their family. Also it would be such a fulfilling experience to help with educating the family on the opportunities that are not always general knowledge to the public.

    I believe the most challenging part would be the amount of effort and time it would take to do the job right. This would be time-consuming and emotionally draining.

    Reply
  • Chibuzo Igweh says:

    My favorite thing about being a service provider would be the fact that I get to help a parent gain the confidence that they need to know that they can provide their child with quality care on their own. I feel like the most challenging thing would be building a safe environment for parent’s to trust me with all their worries. It is not easy to gain someones trust.

    Reply
  • Victoria Garfinkel says:

    Hi Dana,

    I enjoyed reading your blog post. I liked the comment about how service coordinators are teachers in some way as they bolster learning and relationships. The discussion about the challenges of being a service coordinator I found to be interesting. It does seem like it would be overwhelming with all of the cases and different families that one must deal with but how you focus on the positive aspect is a great insight. The thought of thinking how helpful you are to the families must make it all worth it. I would like most helping the families and thinking about how I can change their Child’s development. I could also help the parent gain confidence in their abilities to help their child. The challenges would be juggling all of the cases and different families that require different needs. However, the experience of meeting them would balance the struggle.

    Reply
  • Arielle Lutfak says:

    If I were a service coordinator, I think the thing I would find most rewarding is knowing that my work could potentially change the way a family and child interact/grow for the better. Being able to see the child and family progress would be an amazing opportunity and be so fulfilling. The most challenging aspect for me would likely be not getting too attached to the families; I think I would become overwhelmed and would have to work hard to not emotionally burn myself out.

    Reply
  • Nicolas Ballivian says:

    What I would like the most about being a service coordinator based on what I have learned is the ability to help multiple families progress in their lives. Being able to establish relationships with these people truly helps with their overall development, and is beneficial to both the service coordinator and the family in need. What I would personally find challenging about being a service coordinator would be finding the resources in the community that are specific to the needs of the family. I believe that in order to address the needs of the family as best as possible I would have to take every resource into account, because not being able to provide the right resources can be detrimental to the overall growth and health of the family. My goal as a service coordinator would be to leave the families equipped and familiar with every resource at their disposal in their communities that meet their needs,

    Reply
    • Yes, identifying resources and helping families access them is such an important part of the ongoing work of service coordination. Ultimately, a SC wants to help families learn to find the resources themselves so they know what to do when they need something. This is especially important because children and families are only in EI for a short amount of time!

      Reply
  • Kambry Russell says:

    I believe that as a service coordinator I would most enjoy the rewards of getting to see a child and family get better. Watching the child heal and cope better, as well as watching the family members learn how to handle their child’s condition better would be wonderful. It would also be great to see how happy the family members are when new milestones are reached and watching their child improve over time. I think that I would struggle with how busy my days would be though. I am not good at multitasking, and it seems like a position as a service coordinator would require a lot of that. I would definitely need to keep a to-do list and a calendar in order to remember all of the things I have to do. Otherwise, they would just get lost in my mind, and I would miss a lot of tasks.

    Reply
  • Estefany Mora says:

    I think what I would enjoy the most about being a service coordinator is establishing relationships with the clients and working together towards achieving a goal. The idea of helping someone and working together in order to obtain better resources and provide a better life excites me. I believe seeing the family’s growth would inspire me to keep going until they achieve their goals. The most challenging part would be maintaining a schedule to get everything done. It seems as a service coordinator one has to juggle several things a day as well as new tasks that come about during the day. Maintaining a work plan and schedule that allows me to get all the things done in a well and efficient manner would be the most challenging thing.

    Reply
  • Miki Haruki says:

    As a service coordinator, I believe it would be the most rewarding for me to be able to see the progress a child is making as well as their family. I would enjoy getting feedback from the family and working with them to make the IFSP better and better until it is a good fit for both the child and the family. However, it does seem very challenging if a resource I need access to was not available in my community or it may be a little overwhelming at times to keep track of all the different IFSP plans for various families.

    Reply
  • Leslie Nguyen says:

    Hello! Wow, she seems to have very busy days but she is making such a positive impact. Being a service coordinator seems to be a job for caring and patient individuals. The position seems to take up lot of time and requires the person to time manage well and be organized. From my point of view, I think as a service coordinator, I would enjoy the interacts with different families and being able to help them in any way I can. What I would find the most challenging is finding enough time in a day to help everyone and to make sure you are not prioritzing the needs of one family over another.

    Reply
  • Cameron C. says:

    If I were a service coordinator, the most rewarding part would be the lives I would impact and the families I would be able to serve. Although being a service coordinator would have its busy days, knowing that I would be able to help families and make a positive impact on their lives is all I would need to keep going. The thing I would find most challenging is prioritizing my time and keeping my day organized, but with efficient planning I could overcome this challenge!

    Reply
  • Marlene Huerta says:

    From what I have learned and read, I think what I would like the most about being a service coordinator would be building relationships with the family and watching the progress that they make together. Celebrating the success of the family seems like an extremely joyful thing once you become very close and spend a lot of time with them. What I would find the most challenging is definitely keeping up with the paperwork, like Jenni mentioned. I feel like it is very challenging to keep up with all the paperwork when your week already consists of so many activities or visits, which means that an agenda would be very necessary for me!

    Reply
  • Sahithi Kasa says:

    What do you like most about being a service coordinator? What do you find most challenging and why?

    I think what I would like most about being a service coordinator is having the ability to have a lasting impact on children and their families in a way that will help them not only in the present but also in the future. I also would like building a relationship with the family and helping them in encouraging their child’s success. I think what I would find most challenging is finding a way to manage all of my responsibilities and finding ways to effectively communicate with each child and family because every family is unique.

    Reply
  • Grace Blumenfeld says:

    A career as a service coordinator seems extremely exciting! This occupation would be great for those who desire to work with people, make a difference in others’ lives, and be challenged on a regular basis. In fact, this is the exact opposite of a typical desk job. I think it’s especially interesting that even though service coordinators may work with the same family for months, the child and family goals are changing throughout the experience. As a service coordinator I would enjoy the fact that each day is never the same. I’d appreciate a career that challenges me with goals that make a true impact. I would find paperwork the most difficult part of the job as I enjoy interacting with others over tasks where I’d have to sit down and focus for a long time.

    Reply
  • Alejandra Rubio says:

    I think what I would like most about being a service coordinator is to be able to connect and communicate with families. Helping families would be very rewarding. I would find preparing paperwork and looking for resources to be difficult. I would want to provide the best resources so I would have a hard time deciding what the best option would be.

    Reply
  • John B says:

    This post provided great insight into a typical day for a service coordinator. This seems like a dynamic job that requires a lot of patience and endurance. However, as the author pointed out it also sounds incredibly rewarding. Regardless, healthy boundaries seem important to ensure coordinators are not emotionally strained and compartmentalize work from life. This post definitely gave me a more realistic understanding of what an actual day might look like if I were to pursue this profession.

    Reply
  • Claire Eckardt says:

    The insights in this post were extremely informative as to what to expect as a service coordinator. The aspects that most appeal to me are the ability to work directly with families to help them develop and meet their goals, as well as the variety of day-to-day experiences. However, I can see how the risk of burnout and compassion fatigue can run high when working with populations who may be struggling.

    Reply
  • Mac Clapper says:

    I think some of the more positive aspects of being a service coordinator are listed in the post. Helping a family grow and be successful is so rewarding. Additionally, I think it’s incredibly important. The service providers don’t just help, but can actively guide the family away from negative actions and towards positive parenting. In the same sense, being a service coordinator can be very taxing. Having a large caseload, with individually unique families, can be a lot for one person to handle.

    Reply
  • Madison K says:

    I think being a service coordinator would be a very fulfilling and meaningful job. You get to positively impact so many children and their families on a day to day basis. What I would find most enjoyable if I were a service coordinator is the hands-on aspect. You get to interact with these families and really see the growth a child has made first-hand. The most challenging part for me would be staying organized and making sure every child/family has an individualized plan catering to their needs.

    Reply
  • Jennifer Castillo says:

    What I like the most about the service coordinator is the huge involvement they have with the child and their families, it’s like they’re always there making sure that the child’s needs and parent’s needs are fulfilled. I’m also sure that it must be an amazing feeling watching the progress these children and their families have done. I would say that it seems very challenging to be able to multitask as a service coordinator.

    Reply
  • Kameron O says:

    What do you like most about being a service coordinator? What do you find most challenging and why?

    I think that in the future, the thing I would like most about being a service coordinator would be interacting with the families. I think that learning what makes every family unique would just be really interesting. To me, I imagine the most challenging part would be to work with a family that does feel empowered to make decisions. I imagine it might be difficult to hear about the support their child would need, so to work with a family who doesn’t want to make their own decisions seems difficult.

    Reply
  • Supriya Anand says:

    If I were a service provider, I would like the fact that you are building relationships by working with families and improving the strategies they implement in their homes. I also like the fact that they have to apply strategies according the family’s needs so problem solving is definitely a skill they would have to keep up with. I also believe that it is rewarding to help families and their children meet their ultimate goals.

    Reply
  • Karen Gonzalez says:

    Although I am not a service coordinator, I think being able to help families and their children is one of the most rewarding experiences of being one. Service coordinators help families learn skills like advocacy and help them find resources that will serve them in the long run. Every day seems like a learning experience and you are able to establish long-lasting relationships with different kinds of families. You are helping both parents and children achieve goals and reach new milestones. I think some of the most challenging aspects of being a service coordinator would be time management and availability. Of course as a service coordinator your job is to keep the family’s interest a priority and address their concerns and needs, but that could become difficult when trying to assess multiple family’s needs along with your own individual needs. I also think that after spending a significant amount of time with families and creating these important relationships with them would make it difficult to not get attached.

    Reply
  • Yingying Zhen says:

    If I am a service coordinator, I would love the aspect of making a positive impact on a child’s life and making their parent’s life easier, even just a little. I would think the most challenging part would be time management and still have a life outside of work.

    Reply
  • Caroline F says:

    If I was service coordinator, I believe my favorite part would be seeing the family experience positive and lasting change. To help kids and parents have positive relationships, overcome challenges, and get the resources they need would be endlessly rewarding. What I believe would be the most challenging part is having to compartmentalize. If you have a challenging day with one family, you cannot let it affect your interactions with the next family. You owe every family your undivided attention and best attitude and I can imagine that would be very difficult to maintain when you are facing a range of difficulties through out your work day. I have so much respect for service coordinators!

    Reply
  • eleana velasco says:

    I am not a service coordinator but I would love to be one. If I were one I feel as though just the simple notion of helping families get through difficult situations, especially when they didn’t even know this kind of help or services existed, would be my overall favorite part. Being a part of a solution that would end up having beneficial long-term effects for both the child and family feels like a dream job. Helping a child work through their developmental delays is making a difference, and that’s what is making e lean towards a career in this.

    Reply
  • I would love meeting new families and children, but I would also struggle with the overwhelming schedule.

    Reply
  • Tiffiny Sakahara says:

    Being a service coordinator sounds difficult. I would worry the most about unanticipated delays, like traffic or accidents, impacting how much time I have for family visits. What is most impressive to me is that service coordinators are able to balance being present for the family’s needs as well as being able to fit so much work in one day!

    Reply
  • Kimberly Mendez says:

    Being a service coordinator sounds like a wonderful job given the overall purpose of doing this job; to help and improve the development of kids. I would definitely say that this is the most rewarding part of this as well as the experience that you gather along the way which ultimately helps in collecting a wider foundation of services that can be provided to the next kid that comes along. I believe the most challenging part of this is getting families to stray from what they have judged as ‘right.’ If you come across a family that is doing things one way, especially as a culture-based way of development, it may be difficult to get them to shift to a better alternative. In this case, I belive that instances like these may be the most difficult part of this job.

    Reply
  • Lesly Chavez says:

    Although I am not a service coordinator currently, I would assume the best part of being in this role is the direct impact one has in a child’s life. It is beautiful to work step by step alongside a family to assist a child in their development. By that same token, I would sense that this is also one of the most difficult parts of the position. Having ultimately such a huge responsibility may be draining, but nevertheless extremely rewarding in the end.

    Reply
  • Lauren Serra says:

    What do you like most about being a service coordinator? What do you find most challenging and why?
    Hello Dana! I am a college student enrolled in an Early Childhood Intervention Course. My professor has taught me about the Service Coordinator profession. The most appealing part of the job is the ability to improve families lives by connecting them with resources they need in their community. I would find it challenging to support multiple families.

    Reply
  • Lauren Serra says:

    What do you like most about being a service coordinator? What do you find most challenging and why?

    Hello Dana! I am a college student enrolled in an Early Childhood Intervention Course. My professor has taught me about the Service Coordinator profession. The most appealing part of the job is the ability to improve families lives by connecting them with resources they need in their community. I would find it challenging to support multiple families because every family has unique needs.

    Reply
  • Sheryl Wong says:

    What I would love most about being a service coordinator is witnessing changes in relationships and children’s growth. Establishing relationship with different family, helping them to build a better relationship with their kids by getting to know more about how to help their kids, is beneficial to both the service coordinator and family. I will be more than happy to see all of their changes, especially the growth of the kids. What I would find the most challenging is about coaching. When I imagine I have built a really good and close relationship with the family, I may try my very best to help them immediately and may neglect the importance of coaching and enhancing their capability to help with their own situation in the future.

    Reply
  • Shelby I says:

    What I would enjoy most about being a Service Coordinator would be seeing the kids reach the milestones that we have all been working towards. I would look forward to witnessing things like pre-school graduation, and would feel rewarded every time one of the kids made progress. I think if I wasn’t able to provide for the needs of the family due to limited resources, it would really bother me. With such a compacted schedule, I worry that I would also need to remember to take time for myself – you can’t pour from an empty glass!

    Reply
  • Vivian Nguyen says:

    The tasks included of being a service coordinator is very specific and difficult. Even though I’m not an EI specialist, I can see how much effort is put into each family. In my opinion, the most challenging aspect of being an EI specialist is time management. Services generally are valid until the age of 3, so it can be stressful to find various effective strategies that can both benefit the child’s life, and strengthen the child-family relationship. Although being an EI specialist is no joke, the progress you see in both the child and family seems so touching. In the end, EI specialist are forever part of that family’s lifechanging chapter of their lives.

    Reply
  • Priscilla Davila says:

    Although I could previously vaguely imagine what a day as a Service Coordinator would look like, I never imagined it to be so fast paced and multi-faceted. If I were to become a service coordinator, I believe the thing I would enjoy the most is the impact I know I am making on the child and family’s life, and making connections with these parents on a very personal level. Additionally, I am not a person who enjoys routine, so I love the idea everyday and child is unique. I do believe I would have trouble prioritizing tasks, but hope to be better with gained experience.

    Reply
  • Linh says:

    The thing I would like most about being a service coordinator is witnessing firsthand the impact I am making in other children’s lives. I think it would be rewarding to work with children and their families and help them on their journey towards success. If I were a service coordinator, the most challenging part might be making time for myself, as I can see myself getting overwhelmed with cases.

    Reply
  • Sarah Gleason says:

    If I were a service coordinator, I would probably love the connections I make with people the most. I would love creating a unique connection with each family and getting to know and see individual progress with each child and family. I would love talking to people and having different families with different goals. The most challenging aspect of being a service coordinator for me would probably be time management and making sure that I meet the needs of all my families. If I had a day like Jenni, I would be bound to forget something or miss a deadline. I would need to make sure that I am diligent and organized in order to meet every families specific needs.

    Reply
  • Alexa Castro says:

    Hi Dana! Thanks again for another informative blog post. Although I am not a service coordinator, I would be happy to serve families that need assistance and don’t know where to start. I would want to find resources around the area that cater to their needs. Each day would not be the same as there are different tasks to complete. It would not be like an office job where you are just typing on your laptop. However, from the day in the life, it does sound chaotic from going several places in one day. I would need to remain organized and stay on top of my schedule as a service coordinator.

    Reply
  • Amy Nguyen says:

    If I was a service coordinator, I would enjoy the process of building a relationship with the family and their child. Building a deep connection with the family and child will enhance my role as a service coordinator and effectively address their concerns. Something that I would find challenging is that I might encounter obstacles where I am not able to provide the answer or solution for the family. That’s why it is important to be able to be vulnerable as a professional and reach out to further specialists who can handle the situation better.

    Reply
  • I appreciated the insight into what a day as a service coordinator could potentially look like if I were to pursue this path. As I learn more information regarding what this position entails, I believe I would like seeing the progress that both the children and families exert reflecting back after each meeting. Growing with each individuals interest in mind, together, is something that I have observed through videos and different interactions. I believe such effect is what steers me towards this field. With this in mind, however, I believe I would find understanding that I will not be able to help with every concern the family may have most challenging. Wanting to help each family with everything is something that will take time, determination and patience which I know I have. Unfortunately, resources are what lack in some communities which is heartbreaking to truly be understanding of.

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  • Joey Lopez says:

    Hi Dana! Although I am currently a college student, I think what I would enjoy most about being a service coordinator is connecting with the families and seeing the child’s growth. It is such a wonderful thing to build relationships with people and being part of the progress made in the child’s life is such a magical feeling. I think one of the most challenging aspects of being a service coordinator is feeling like I am not doing enough if I am unable to find the right or available resources to meet the family’s needs. Although I know sometimes it is out of my hands (in terms of the resources available in the area) but it would be hard for me to overcome that feeling.

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  • Natalia Martinez says:

    If I were a service coordinator in the future, I think one aspect I would enjoy the most regarding my job would be the connections you get to create with the families you work with, and how you become a part of the child’s progress in their development. I would find it extremely rewarding to be a resource for the family for whatever they need to support their child’s intervention process, as well as being able to witness firsthand any progress the child is making. I would also be very appreciative of all of the knowledge and compassion I would gain through a job like this, as no family, child, or situation is ever the same, and they all have so much to offer. I think a challenge might be getting used to the timeline of the intervention process, and understanding that it is not always linear nor quick; a child might take months to gain a certain skill, but this is normal and dependent on each individual journey.

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  • Janelly says:

    I believe that the job of a service coordinator is really rewarding. You would be able to make a positive impact on the lives of many families and also connect with them on a personal level. It can definitely be challenging at times from what it seems, but service coordinators are prepared and extremely knowledgeable about the work that they do therefore making them amazing, but also efficient workers!

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  • Emily Phillips says:

    If I were a service coordinator I think I would love to be able to connect families with necessary resources and other providers to allow their children to thrive. I would very much enjoy the changing day-to-day tasks that come with being a service provider. I love the one-on-one interactions service coordinators are able to provide to families and that you get to know so much about so many unique individuals.

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  • Yesica Pineda says:

    Being a service coordinator is challenging because you take on too many roles and responsibilities. It is just like a teacher when they are about to burn out. Knowing how to cope with different skills and abilities will definitely help the service coordinator be more flexible and organized. Building a relationship with the parents is great, but you have to know your limits. Following up with how the child is doing is necessary. It not only helps motivating yourself, but reminding you of the hard work you have done within that family. It will all payoff in one way or the other. I definitely do think and believe that there has to be a sense or passion to be able to work with people/different types of families and provide resources. It could be a stressful job, if you don’t know how to address your time management.

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  • Ethan Rodriguez says:

    I believe what I would love most about being a service coordinator is being able to provide families that may seem lost or hopeless with a glimpse of hope for a better future. In a time of need, I believe any little action can leave a lasting impact which is what I would ultimately hope to aim for as a service coordinator.

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  • Grace says:

    Although I am not a service coordinator, I look forward to potentially going into the field one day. I think the part of the job I am most drawn to/would enjoy the most would be working with families and seeing the progress of each child. I think it would be extremely rewarding to be doing a job that can help children and families and make life-changing progress. This makes it unique from other jobs, which to me is very appealing.

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  • Ana Rodriguez says:

    I am not a service coordinator, but learning about all they do has been so interesting. It seems like such an impactful job. I think something I would enjoy the most would be getting to really connect with a family. You are really diving deep into their lives and how you can help them. Creating a meaningful connection and relationship seems so special. With that, I would worry about creating boundaries, especially with not taking work home with me. I could see how the work-life balance could be challenging, especially if you notice work starting to cross over into home, given the difficulties you could experience.

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  • Quinn Bohlmann says:

    I appreciate the honesty here about how it really can be hard to be a service coordinator. We hear a lot about how fulfilling it is and I do think it’s helpful to hit on some of the things that are not the most fun. I am not currently an SC, but I find working with families to be not only taxing on my skill-set (imposter syndrome: “am I qualified for this? should I request help?”) but also taxing on my emotions when families hit both milestones and hurdles in their process. With practice and SC training I imagine this will subside and I can grow more confident in my skillset as well as grow new skills to not “take home” the emotionality of the work.

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  • Devin Rosssman says:

    I believe that if I was a serviced coordinator the most enjoyable part would be watching a child grow and progress along with seeing the joy that brings their families. I love bringing joy and comfort to peoples lives, also helping them grow. I could see the work load feeling challenging as it may be hard to juggle keeping the needs of each family a priority while having so many to think of.

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  • bailee says:

    As a student who is learning about the career of a service coordinator, this blog post is very helpful. It is clear to me that service coordinators wear many capes and are responsible for making the family and child feel supported, while also making sure that all parts of the team are working together. This sounds like an extremely difficult job, but also a very rewarding job. The role of a service coordinator is so vital for families to make all the necessary arrangements needed in order for their child to meet their goals. Without them, it would be nearly impossible for so many children to have these life changing goals met!

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