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!
