Early Intervention Strategies for Success

Sharing What Works in Supporting Infants & Toddlers and the Families in Early Intervention

 

A Provider Offers to Babysit…What Do You Do?

Posted on April 29, 2014 by in All, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Service Coordination, What Would You Do?

We’ve written about professional boundaries several times from the perspective of how to maintain your own boundaries when working so closely with families. Here’s a twist…how do you manage boundary issues when you see them happening between a colleague and a family? Let’s consider an example.
The Babysitter
Alexis has been working with Enzi’s family for almost a …

You Are a Mandated Reporter

Posted on April 11, 2014 by in All, Practical Strategies, Professional Development, Service Coordination, What Would You Do?

Do you know what that means? When you are a mandated reporter, that means that you are in a profession that is among those mandated to report suspected child abuse or neglect. It is an aspect of your job that, hopefully, you don’t have to think about very often. Reporting suspected child abuse or neglect …

The Parent says “You’re the expert. You tell me.” – What Do You Do?

Posted on March 25, 2014 by in All, Engaging Families, IFSP Development, Practical Strategies, Service Coordination, What Would You Do?

At the initial IFSP meeting, Amada’s parents listen quietly as the other team members discuss their daughter’s development with them. Amada’s parents have been relatively quiet during the IFSP meeting, offering little input so far. They agree with any suggestions that other team members have. When asked about what goals they have for their daughter, they …

Your “EI Happy Thought” For the Day

Posted on February 27, 2014 by in All, Engaging Families, Professional Development

You make a difference.
There it is. It’s a powerful thing and one that we can easily take for granted in the midst of paperwork, getting stuck in traffic between visits, going to meetings, and completing even more paperwork. You never know when you are going to provide support to a child and family that will …

Walking the Parent-Professional Boundary

Posted on February 18, 2014 by in All, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies, Teamwork

Establishing and maintaining professional boundaries is an ongoing and important process for every early interventionist. Because interventionists work so closely with families, the boundaries between the parent-professional partnership and friendship can become blurred. This can happen for both people in the partnership, but it is ultimately the professional’s responsibility to maintain the boundary.
Consider this real …

Is That Even In My Job Description?

Posted on February 14, 2014 by in All, Practical Strategies, Service Coordination

I graduated in May 2013 from JMU with my Master’s degree in Inclusive Early Childhood Education. From the moment I stepped off stage after receiving my diploma I knew that I was destined to work in early intervention. I knew that I was ready to get my own caseload full of children and families who …

Tips for Working with Interpreters

Posted on February 04, 2014 by in All, IFSP Development, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies, Service Coordination, Teamwork

Today we hosted a fantastic Talks on Tuesdays webinar on culture and cultural competence, presented by Cecily Rodriguez from the VA Dept of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. The webinar will be archived on our Talks on Tuesdays 1014 page soon if you missed it. Several questions related to working with language interpreters were asked …

Guiding Parents during IFSP Development

Posted on January 30, 2014 by in All, Engaging Families, IFSP Development, Practical Strategies, 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 …

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

Posted on January 14, 2014 by in All, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies, Service Coordination, What Would You Do?

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 …

New Year’s Resolutions for Early Interventionists

Posted on January 07, 2014 by in All, Practical Strategies, Professional Development

Everywhere you turn right now, you hear or see an ad related to New Year’s resolutions. Did you know that 45% of people make resolutions but only 8% say that they are successful? In case you’ve made some resolutions for 2014, I thought I would help you get started on them by sharing some strategies you …

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