Early Intervention Strategies for Success

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

 

Preaching to the Choir about Early Screening Resources – Spread the Word!

Posted on November 13, 2014 by in All, Local EI System Management, Practical Strategies, Teamwork

Meet Chris – He and his family have moved 7 times since he was born and are now staying with friends. Chris was referred to your program by his mother at the suggestion of her friend’s mom. The referral said that Chris was 29 months old and not walking. When you arrive for the screening, you see …

Coaching: It’s About More than Just Asking Questions!

Posted on October 30, 2014 by in Adult Learning, All, Coaching Practices, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies, Service Coordination, Teamwork

Jackie receives a call from Tate’s mother, Mrs. Comer. Mrs. Comer is really frustrated because she feels like she’s not benefiting from her visits with the physical therapist. She tells Jackie that she feels like all Alex (the PT) does is ask her questions. She says “I don’t want to just be asked questions that …

NEW VIDEO – What is Early Intervention in Virginia?

Posted on September 24, 2014 by in All, Celebrating Early Intervention, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Local EI System Management, Professional Development

I’m so excited to spread the word about our latest video featuring service providers, administrators, and families talking about early intervention! Specifically, the video answers the following 3 questions: What is early intervention? What does it look like? and Why does it work?

In addition to short interviews, the video includes photos and video clips of …

The Value of Special Instruction (aka Developmental Services)

Posted on September 09, 2014 by in All, Professional Development

Last week, the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) released its newest position statement: The Role of Special Instruction in Early Intervention (PDF, New Window). I was fortunate to be the chair of the workgroup that developed this statement after 2 years of intensive work. Cori Hill, my colleague …

Supporting Teen Parents by Understanding THEIR Development

Posted on August 21, 2014 by in All, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies

“Parent info: Chelsea’s mother, Jill, is 15 years old.”

Reading that tiny bit of info on the referral form can spark different reactions from early interventionists, ranging from those who see working with teen parents as a great opportunity to others who just sigh, expecting a huge challenge ahead. Perhaps the best approach to meeting Chelsea’s mom …

Why Didn’t Our Pediatrician Catch This Earlier??

Posted on May 22, 2014 by in All, Engaging Families, IFSP Development, Practical Strategies, Service Coordination, What Would You Do?

During the assessment, the professional team members notice some soft neurological signs in Seiko’s development, such as an indwelling thumb, slight scissoring of her legs, and low muscle tone in her trunk. Seiko was referred to early intervention by her pediatrician because she is 14 months old and not yet sitting or crawling. According to her …

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 …

Letting It Go…Role Release and Why It Can Be Hard

Posted on March 11, 2014 by in All, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies, Teamwork

Maybe you’ve been working in early intervention for many years and you’re great at what you do. Or perhaps, you’re brand new to the field and eager to try out your skills. In either position, it can be a struggle to get out there and find that you need to release your role to someone …

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 …

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 …

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