Virginia Early Intervention
Professional Development Center

Virginia Specific Information

Coaching in Early Intervention - Introductory Presentation

This presentation was developed by coaching leaders in the Valley region of Virginia and is now available for others to use with EI practitioners. It was designed to provide an introductory level training (4 hours) to EI practitioners about coaching practices. Special thanks to the Valley region for sharing this resource!

Key Principles of Fidelity Assessment
EI Leadership Group of Northern VA

This document provides information about what each of the five coaching characteristics (i.e., joint plan, observation, action/practice, reflection, feedback) look like or does not look like in practice. This resource can assist practitioners, supervisors, and fidelity observers in developing consistent coaching practices.

Articles

BriefCASE – Coaching Quick Reference Guide (external website)

This BriefCASE outlines what an individual using a coaching interaction style and the person being coached (i.e., the learner) would each do in relation to the characteristics of the coaching process.

BriefCASE – Tips & Techniques for Effective Coaching Interactions (external website)

This article describes strategies to help practitioners use a coaching style of interaction.

CASEInPoint – Evidence-Based Definition of Coaching Practices (external website)

This article describes a definition for coaching based on research and the characteristics of coaching so that practitioners can understand how coaching can be used to build the capacity of parents and other colleagues.

CASEInPoint – Common Misperceptions about Coaching in Early Intervention (external website)

This article addresses 10 common misperceptions about using coaching, including the therapist’s role with the child and family, use during a billable service, purpose of coaching, etc.

CASEtools-A Framework for Reflective Questioning When Using a Coaching Interaction Style (external website)

This CASEtool includes a description of the development and use of the Framework for Reflective Questioning. The framework is useful for assisting coaches in promoting reflection on the part of another person when using a capacity-building approach in early childhood intervention.

CASEtools-Coaching Practices Rating Scale for Assessing Adherence to Evidence-Based EC Intervention Practices (external websit)

This CASEtool includes a brief overview of coaching practices, a description of the Coaching Practices Rating Scale, and an explanation of how to use the scale to determine the extent to which a practitioner uses the characteristics of coaching as part of his or her work with a family member or in supporting a colleague.

Friedman, C., Woods, J., & Salisbury, C. (2012). Caregiver coaching strategies for early intervention providers: Moving toward operational definitions. (external website, pdf) Infants & Young Children, 25, 62-82.

In this article, a set of definitions and examples of coaching practices are proposed that providers can use to identify specific practices they can use to support caregiver learning. Practices include: conversation/information sharing, observation, direct teaching, demonstration, guided practice with feedback, caregiver practice with feedback, joint interaction, and problem-solving/reflection.

From Couching to Coaching (external websites)
Dathan Rush, EdD, CCC-SLP
The ASHA Leader

This article focuses on how to get families engaged during intervention by communicating their enormous influence on their child’s development. Strategies are provided for boosting family involvement during visits.

Kemp, P., & Turnbull, A. P. (2014). Coaching with parents in early intervention: An interdisciplinary research synthesis. (external website, pdf) Infants & Young Children, 27(4), 305-324.

This article synthesizes intervention studies using coaching in early intervention and 
describes findings that address coaching definitions and descriptions, characteristics of families and coaches, settings, contexts, dosage, and professional development, and child and family outcomes.

Salisbury, C., Woods, J., Synder, P., Moddelmog, K., Mawdsley, H., Romano, M., & Windsor, K. (2018). Caregiver and provider experiences with coaching and embedded intervention. (external website) Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 38(1), 17-29.

This article reviews findings from two studies about the shared experiences of caregivers and service providers during home visits when the Embedded Practices and Intervention With Caregivers (EPIC) approach was used.

eLearning, Presentations, and Webinars

eLearning

Coaching Families (external website)
Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) – Texas 

This training module is designed to support service providers in delivering evidence-
based practices. This two-hour module revisits key information fundamental to the coaching approach for service delivery, providing you with the opportunity to observe each component through video demonstrations. You will be able to utilize a coaching fidelity checklist in realistic scenarios through guided practice activities.

When completing this module, Virginia practitioners should substitute the Coaching in Action Checklist in place of the Texas ECI Coaching Checklist. Review the Instructions for VA Early Intervention Practitioners for guidance on how to complete this module as a required part of training for “qualified fidelity observers” participating in Virginia’s fidelity assessment process.

Yes, Service Coordinators Can Use Coaching!
VA’s Integrated Training Collaborative
Partnership for People with Disabilities at VCU

This course is designed to educate service coordinators and supervisors on how to use coaching practices to help families participate in the early intervention process, share information, access resources, and solve problems. Learners will explore nine coaching practices, which are included in the Coaching during Service Coordination Fidelity Checklist. The implementation of these practices will be illustrated with family scenarios and learners will practice using the checklist while viewing video clips of service coordinators engaging parents. For additional information, read Coaching Families during Service Coordination: A Practice Guide, which is included in the course. To access the course, visit the the VA Early Intervention eLearning Center site and scroll down to find the title under Ongoing Professional Development Courses.

Webinars

3…2…1…Blast Off! Launching VA’s Coaching Facilitation Guide
VA’s Integrated Training Collaborative | Partnership for People with Disabilities
Presented by Dana Childress

This archived webinar introduces a new resource, Virginia’s Coaching Facilitation Guide PDF. This 129-page resource is designed to help master coaches, program supervisors, and local system managers lead a book study using The Early Childhood Coaching Handbook (Rush & Shelden, 2011) and facilitate learning activities at staff meetings about using coaching with families. The guide includes detailed activities (instructions and handouts) that can be used to reinforce important coaching concepts. An implementation project was also discussed, which includes monthly online support for program leaders who are implementing the guide with their localities. Click the link above to visit the 2015 Talks on Tuesdays Archive and scroll down until you find the webinar.

Fidelity Observation with the Coaching-in-Action Checklist: How’s It Going?
VA’s Integrated Training Collaborative | Partnership for People with Disabilities
Presented by Kyla Patterson and Dana Childress

This web discussion invited practitioners, supervisors, and local system managers to share their experiences with using the Coaching-in-Action Checklist as the fidelity observation tool. Discussion focused on how fidelity observation of coaching practices is currently working in local programs, how the tool is being used, positive experiences and challenges. Feedback was also invited regarding additional needs for support to ensure successful fidelity observation.

Tools

Checklists for Providing/Receiving Early Intervention Supports in Child Care Settings (external website)
CASETOOLS – Family Infant and Preschool Program

This CASEtool includes a description of the development and use of two Checklists for Providing/Receiving Early Intervention Supports in Child Care Settings. The checklists are based on the current evidence for use of natural learning environment practices and coaching as an interaction style for building the capacity of the child care provider to promote child learning and development.

Coaching Families during Service Coordination Fidelity Checklist
VA's Integrated Training Collaborative
Partnership for People with Disabilities at VCU

This checklist can be used to determine if service coordinators are using nine coaching practices with fidelity while helping families participate in the early intervention process, share information, access resources, and solve problems. To learn more about these practices, consider reading Coaching Families during Service Coordination: A Practice Guide and completing the online course, Yes, Service Coordinators Can Use Coaching!, which is available on the VA Early Intervention eLearning Center site (scroll down to find the course under Ongoing Professional Development Courses).

Coaching in Action Checklist
Guidance for Using the Coaching in Action Checklist for Fidelity Assessment
Infant & Toddler Connection of VA

This checklist is used to monitor fidelity to coaching practices in Virginia. It can be used as a self-assessment or as an observation tool by a qualified fidelity observer. The guidance document includes information about fidelity assessment requirements, qualified fidelity observers, how to score the checklist, and considerations for scoring and providing feedback. Click here for information about the fidelity assessment process.

FGRBI and SS-OO-PP-RR Key Indicator Checklist
Family Guided Routines Based Intervention

This tool can be used when observing or reflecting on the use of caregiver coaching practices as part of Family Guided Routines Based Intervention. The letters in the document title stand for: Setting the Stage, Observations and Opportunities to Embed, Problem Solving and Planning, and Reflection and Review. For more information and resources, visit the Caregiver Coaching page on the Family Guided Routines Based Intervention site.

Joint Plan – Sample (English, Spanish)

These sample documents can be used with families to write down the joint plan at the end of intervention visits. Special thanks to Adriana from the ITC of Fairfax-Falls Church for translation.

Orientation to Coaching and Natural Learning Environment Practices for Service Providers (external website)
Orientation to Coaching and Natural Learning Environment Practices for Service Coordinators
VA’s Integrated Training Collaborative | Partnership for People with Disabilities

These documents outline a 4-meeting orientation process that supervisors and mentors can use with EI service providers or service coordinators to prepare them to implement coaching and natural learning environment practices.

Videos

Coaching a Family during an Early Intervention Visit (YouTube, video)
Integrated Training Collaborative | Partnership for People with Disabilities/VCU

This video features Yvonnie, a developmental services provider, using a coaching interaction style with a mother during an early intervention visit. Yvonnie reviews the mother’s joint plan for helping her son learn to self-feed and pull-to-stand. She uses reflective questions to explore the family’s experience since the last visit.

Coaching Fidelity Observer Video Chat Series
VA’s Integrated Training Collaborative
Partnership for People with Disabilities at VCU
Hosted by Dana Childress, PhD

This 5-part video chat series, early intervention service providers have a panel discussion about conducting coaching fidelity observations as part of Virginia’s required fidelity process. The series includes:

• Part 1 - Introductions and Purpose (runtime 7:11)
• Part 2 - Preparing for the Coaching Fidelity Observation (runtime 7:09)
• Part 3 - Conducting the Coaching Fidelity Observation (runtime 10:18)
• Part 4 - After the Coaching Fidelity Observation: Meeting with the Coach and Sharing Feedback (runtime 9:43)
• Part 5 – Benefits of Coaching Fidelity Observation (runtime 6:43)

Special thanks to our panelists:

• Emily Amerson, BA, CFCS-HDFS, Early Intervention Program Manager, Service Coordinator and Developmental Services Provider, Easterseals UCP
• Kim Griffith, MS, CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist, ITC of Fairfax-Falls Church
• Bonnie Kandel, Physical Therapist, ITC of Fairfax-Falls Church
• Lisa Santra, M.A. CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist/Master Coach, ITC of Arlington

Coaching in Action (YouTube, video)
Integrated Training Collaborative | Partnership for People with Disabilities/VCU

This video features Robin, a speech-language pathologist, using a coaching interaction style with a mother during an early intervention visit. Robin uses observation, practice, reflection, feedback, and joint planning during this activity to help the mother learn intervention strategies she can use with her son.

Discussing Jake’s Progress (Coaching Example) (YouTube, video)
Integrated Training Collaborative | Partnership for People with Disabilities/VCU

This video features Nosheen, a service coordinator with the Infant & Toddler Connection of Fairfax-Falls Church in Virginia, using coaching practices with Mia, Jake's mother, as they discuss concerns about progress. To see the same scenario in which the service coordinator is not using coaching practices, watch Discussing Jake's Progress (Non-Coaching Example).

Discussing Leisel’s Communication Device (Coaching Example) (YouTube, video)
Integrated Training Collaborative | Partnership for People with Disabilities/VCU

This video features Christina, a service coordinator with the Infant & Toddler Connection of Fairfax-Falls Church in Virginia, using coaching practices while meeting with Benea, Leisel's mother. To see the same scenario when coaching practices were not used, watch Discussing Leisel's Communication Device (Non-Coaching Example).

Early Intervention: Family-Centered Best Practices (external website)
NYC Health

This video describes family-centered practices using embedded coaching techniques and one family's story through the eyes of the mother and the early interventionist.

An Early Interventionist Reflects on Making the Shift to the Coaching Model (Vimeo, video)
Juliann Woods & Early ACCESS

An Early ACCESS early interventionist reflects on her participation in the Iowa Distance Mentoring Model, how she made the shift to using a coaching model, and what she likes about using it.

Families Front and Center: The Power of Coaching (external website)
FIT FOCUS Video Library
University of New Mexico Center for Development and Disability

In the video, a developmental vision specialist describes and illustrates how she used video recordings of her early intervention home visits as a foundation for self-reflection and refinement of her practice and her shift to using coaching in her practice. Visit this library for other videos about the use of coaching by EI programs in New Mexico to support staff and families.

Family-Guided Routines-Based Intervention - Video Illustrations (external website)
Florida State University

Visit this site to watch videos of EI service providers using the FGRBI approach, which includes caregiver coaching strategies. Videos demonstrate the use of coaching practices during intervention visits with families and include interviews with families and providers.

Foundations of Coaching in Early Childhood: Partnering with Parents and Professionals (Video Series) (external website)
Hartford Foundation and CT Birth to Three

Foundations of Coaching is a video training resource for early childhood coaches, based on the 5 key characteristics of coaching as outlined by Dathan Rush and M'Lisa Shelden. Visit this page for the full video (run time 21:08) or to view the video in 7 chapters that highlight each characteristic of coaching.

Harper Hope: A Parent’s View of the Power of Early Intervention (external website)
Direct Results Access Project

This is an important video for families who are, or will be, receiving early intervention services as well as for current and future early intervention practitioners. In Part 1, Karis and Mike share intimate reflections about their daughter's birth and early months in the NICU; in Part 2, Karis articulately describes and illustrates the role of early intervention in their lives. Karis also describes the importance of having a coach in her corner.

How Do You Use Coaching as a Service Coordinator? – Melissa’s Perspective (YouTube, video)
How Do You Use Coaching as a Service Coordinator? – Morlinda’s Perspective (YouTube, video)
Integrated Training Collaborative | Partnership for People with Disabilities/VCU

These videos feature two service coordinators with the Infant & Toddler Connection of Fairfax-Falls Church describing how they use coaching during service coordination.

Making Access Happen – Coaching Support Videos (external website)
MSDE, Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services
Johns Hopkins University/Center for Technology in Education

Visit this site to view videos of Dr. Dathan Rush and Dr. M’Lisa Shelden discussing the use of early childhood coaching practices. Topics covered include: evidence-based practices, sharing expertise, the 5 characteristics of coaching, coaching myths, reflection and reflection questions, tips for engaging coaches, action-practice and modeling, etc.

Using Coaching Strategies to Engage with Families in an Early Intervention Context (YouTube, video)
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

This 33 minute video features Dr. Dathan Rush from the Family, Infant & Preschool Program discussing and presenting information about the use of coaching strategies.

Websites and Programs

Coaching with Evidence-based Practices (external website)
National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders

Visit this page for the NPDC Coaching Manual, presentations, and coaching video examples.