An important and ongoing part of a service coordinator’s job is gathering information from families about their child and how that child fits into the daily routines of their life. This information ebbs and flows, changing as children and parents develop together over time. By gaining insight into these routines service coordinators can facilitate an …
Take a Walk with Me
Posted on November 14, 2019
by
Kimberly Morse, MS
in All, Assessment, Engaging Families, IFSP Development, Practical Strategies, Service Coordination
Coaching from the Outside
Posted on September 05, 2019
by
Stacy Zogheib
in All, Coaching Practices, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies
In evidence-based early intervention, our primary aim is to coach, rather than to “do therapy” ourselves. We teach families how to help their children. The most challenging part of coaching can be finding effective ways to invite parents to participate and join in the interactions with their child.
Location, Location, Location
As therapists, it is natural for …
An Early Interventionist’s Internal Struggle
Posted on November 28, 2018
by
Dana Childress, PhD
in All, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Professional Development, What Would You Do?
I’ve been thinking a lot about routines-based intervention lately. In particular, I’ve been thinking about (and experiencing) what happens when a family doesn’t invite you into their daily routines. What do you do when the space the family makes available to you is small? Not physical space, but family life space. When the only activity …
“Walk the Walk” of Routines Based Services through Self-Reflection
Posted on October 03, 2017
by
Kalli Decker, PhD
in All, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies, Professional Development
How much do I value families’ everyday routines in being able to positively influence children’s development? So very much. Yet… how often do I find myself on a home visit either: 1) only talking with a family about their routines, or 2) engaging with the family in only the routine of play? Too often!
Values versus …
DEC Recommended Practices: Family (Part 2)
Posted on September 19, 2017
by
Dana Childress, PhD
in All, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies, Service Coordination
In Part 1 of this series, we met Phoebe, a service coordinator, and Wyatt’s family. Wyatt had just been referred to early intervention, and his family was eager to begin services but feeling overwhelmed by the process and their son’s new diagnosis of cerebral palsy. We began the discussion about the DEC Recommended Practices (2014) under …
DEC Recommended Practices: Environment
Posted on June 01, 2017
by
Dana Childress, PhD
in All, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies
Nicholas visits with Mia and her grandmother, Mrs. Wilson, during breakfast. Mrs. Wilson loves to cook and would like to involve Mia but she isn’t sure how. When she’s tried, Mia pulls her hand away or arches her back instead of touching the ingredients. Mrs. Wilson knows that she should help Mia touch different textures …
Using Baby Steps to Address Challenging Behaviors during Real Routines
Posted on September 08, 2015
by
Dana Childress, PhD
in All, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies
“Emma runs away every chance she gets. Open a door and she bolts. Try to walk with her into a store and she screams until she wiggles free. We can’t take her anywhere!”
This is how Emma’s mother describes one of the family’s main concerns. Emma’s behavior is difficult for them to manage, and one of …
Ditch the Animal Sounds! – Who’s Ready for the Next Talks on Tuesday?!
Posted on April 30, 2015
by
Corey Cassidy, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
in All, Coaching Practices, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies
It is hard to believe but it is almost May! The final Talk of the two-part series, entitled “Ditch the Animal Sounds: Writing Appropriate Outcomes that Lead to Effective Implementation,” will be presented live on May 5th! In anticipation of the upcoming webinar, I am excited to share with you just a few of the …
Address the Language: The Speech will Follow!
Posted on April 09, 2015
by
Corey Cassidy, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
in All, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies
Joey is 25 months old. He was referred to his local early intervention intake coordinator by his parents secondary to their concerns about his intelligibility and inability to effectively communicate his needs or wants. They reported that he uses approximately 15 words but “talks in such a garbled manner” that both parents and Joey’s older …
Watch Me! – Using Modeling as a Caregiver Teaching Tool
Posted on April 07, 2015
by
Dana Childress, PhD
in Adult Learning, All, Coaching Practices, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies
Lynn meets Devon and his mother, Janae, at the grocery store for their visit this week. When she arrives, she finds them trying to walk into the store. They are struggling because Devon is having a tantrum and Janae is trying to carry him while he kicks and screams. Lynn goes up to them and asks if …
