Early Intervention Service Coordination

Will, the service coordinator, is sensing that Malika, Jeremiah’s mother, is feeling overwhelmed after the assessment. Malika has agreed to proceed with developing Jeremiah’s IFSP, but when they get to discussing possible outcomes, she becomes quiet and tells the other team members to put whatever they think Jeremiah needs to learn on the plan. Will …

Scenario #1: Each time you visit with Mehki’s family, you notice cockroaches crawling around the floor and on the walls. You’ve had to swat them off of Mehki and away from yourself many times and are becoming increasing concerned. Mehki’s mother says that there’s nothing they can do about the bugs because the neighbor has …

You’ve been working with Brenda, Emma’s mother, for several weeks now. She is a mother who, from the very first visit, seemed hungry for adult interaction because, as she says, she’s “stuck at home all day with her kids and no one to talk to.” At each visit, you hear about her relationship with her …

The phone rings and Carole answers, expecting the caller to be referring a new child to the early intervention program. She knows she’s correct when she hears the nervous voice of a new mother telling her that her doctor said to call. When the mother asks for information about the program, Carole replies, “We work …

How many of you remember the TV sitcom, “Who’s the Boss?” that aired in the mid-80’s? The basic premise was a role reversal of common stereotypes when a former National League baseball player moves with his daughter to an upscale Connecticut community to become a housekeeper to a high-powered executive and her son. Typical television …

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 is 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 …

Sam is a service coordinator who works in a large EI program in a metropolitan area. He typically supports about 75 families at a time and his program requires him to make monthly contacts with all of the families. Sam does his best to keep track of everyone’s needs, but has moments when he feels like …

It’s one of our most important timelines in early intervention – the 45-day timeline. It’s also a timeline that service coordinators and local system managers/administrators must keep “on their radars” with families entering early intervention systems. Here are a few important things to know about this timeline:
The 45-day timeline is a family right and safeguard.
The 45-day …

You call to schedule the first intervention visit and the child’s father answers the phone. He says, “Hold on, let me get my wife…”

During the assessment, the father comes home for lunch, opens his front door, sees three strangers sitting in his living room floor, takes a quick glance at his girlfriend, then quietly closes …

You call Rordan’s mother for your monthly contact to check on services and ask her how things are going. She sheepishly tells you that Rordan has made little progress with his crawling and that she doesn’t think he likes physical therapy much. When you ask why she thinks he doesn’t like it, she tells you that …

Guiding Parents during IFSP Development

A Bug Infestation in the Home…What Do You Do?

The Focus of the Visit is Not on the Child…What Do You Do?

Starting at the Beginning…How Do You Describe EI to New Families?

Who’s the Boss?

Service Coordination is Both Wonderful & Challenging!

You Support Fewer Families than I Do…So Why are We Both Struggling?

The 45-Day Timeline: Four Need-To-Knows

Don’t Forget Fathers!

The Baby Cries During Every Intervention Visit…What Do You Do?

It’s Not Goodbye, It’s See You Later!

Supporting Social and Emotional Development: What ALL Early Interventionists Can Do!

Baskin Robbins: How Do I Decide?

Get the Backstory: Validating and Valuing Family Input

EI Awareness Month in VA – The Power of Family Stories

Resource Alert! – Check Out the New Transition Learning Path

The Unspoken Realities of Child Abuse during a Pandemic

Successfully Engaging Caregivers in the Child Outcomes Summary Process Virtually

Call to Action! Service Coordination and Early Intervention – DEC/ITCA Position Statement