A USER’S GUIDE TO EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES

A USER’S GUIDE TO EARLY INTERVENTION

SERVICESSeminar II

Simple Ways to Ensure Children Get Needed Early Intervention Services

Early InterventionService Options

• Audiology• Care Coordination• Family Counseling• Health Services• Medical Diagnostic

Services• Nursing Services• Nutrition Services• Occupational Therapy

• Physical Therapy• Psychological Support

Services• Social Work• Speech/Language• Special Instruction• Technological Aides• Transportation• Vision services

Well qualified staffexample: speech pathologist

• Minimal qualifications include:• License from Hawai`i Board of Speech Pathology and

Audiology to practice as a Speech Pathologist• Masters Degree from accredited college/university in

speech pathology• License issued by State Dept of Commerce &

Consumer Affairs to practice as a Speech Pathologist• One year of supervised experience providing speech

pathology services.• Willing to work some evenings and Saturdays• Hawai`i Drivers License

An EI Care Coordinator: • With family, establishes

provider team• Facilitates the IFSP

(Individual Family Support Plan)

• Maintains team communication

• Links family to other services & supports

• Helps with transition at age three

Monitoring child development

Parent Support

• Emotional• Fiscal• Parent-to-Parent

Transportation provided

Conveniently located services

• At home

• In a preschool or child care setting• At Cameron Center• At PHN offices• At other locations such as a library or park

Why is EARLY intervention likely to be effective?

• Early brain development impacts later emotional, behavioral and cognitive outcomes

• Parent education and training

• “Windows” of opportunity to affect development

Quality research demonstrates effectiveness

• Low birth-weight / Premature birth• Vision problems• Hearing problems• Speech/language problems• Cerebral Palsy• Autism• Down Syndrome

Transition at age three

Concerned about a child’s development?

Research with parents shows there are

BETTER WAYS TO BREAK BAD NEWS.

GOALS OF INITIAL CONVERSATION

• Parents clearly understand your concern• Communicate that parents are the primary

decision-makers for their child• Reassure them that you will listen and

consult with them• Prepare them for the next steps

PREPARE

• Invite both parents or a family member

• Choose a private place

• Schedule enough time

• Review child’s record

• Take a moment to calm yourself

Communication tips

• Check your body language and position

• Keep language clear and simple

• Speak slowly and repeat

• Listen to parents• Reflect their emotions

• Start with observable behavior/symptoms

• Check that parents understand you

• Describe concrete next steps

Let’s try it…..

Communication between EI providers and PCP

Information needed at referral

With parent consent, you will get a copy of every evaluation report

You can have input to and a copy of the Individual Family Support

Plan (IFSP)• Child & family

strengths & needs• Goals• Planned services &

timeline• Evaluation of progress

towards goals & service effectiveness

EI services support

• Child Development• Parent participation, family care

coordination & emotional support• AND --- REFERRAL IS EASY!