*This page is in the process of being updated*
This page features resources from the "Foundational Pillars of Early Intervention" online course prepared in collaboration with EITP and the Early Intervention-Early Childhood Professional Development Community of Practice (2015).
Forty years of research, model demonstration projects, and wisdom and experience from providers and families, have led to the identification of five major themes. These themes, referred to throughout this training as “foundational pillars,” help guide and support best practices in the field of early intervention. These five pillars include:
Family-Centered Practices
Children's Learning
Natural Environments
Adult Learning
Quality Teaming
The "Foundational Pillars of Early Intervention" course content and resources was developed by a national workgroup that formed out of the Early Intervention-Early Childhood Professional Development Community of Practice. Members of the workgroup have extensive experience developing and delivering early intervention training. This module is one part of a Universal Online Part C Early Intervention Curriculum that may be used to support quality early intervention practices.
Upon completion of this module, users will have an understanding of each foundational pillar and gain access to resources to support their work as they partner with families in early intervention.
Family-Centered Practices
Video Clips:
Early Intervention: A Routines-Based Approach - Part 1: Traditional vs. Routines-Based Approach - In this video from the Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center (VEIPD), a speech-language pathologist provides a testimonial from a therapist’s perspective about the benefit of providing family-centered, routines-based services.
Early Intervention: A Routines-Based Approach – Part 2: What Intervention Can and Should Look Like - In this short clip obtained from VEIPD, an occupational therapist shares her perspective on how empowering families using family-centered practices builds family confidence and competence.
Additional Resources:
ECTA Center - Division of Early Childhood (DEC) Recommended Practices (2014). Look under the FAMILY section.
DEC Recommended Practices Checklists and Practices Guides from ECTA:
Douglas' Family Story (video)
From the State of Massachusetts Digital Stories: Stories from Real Parents series, the Douglas Family Story is about their child's development and expectations. It highlights the critical importance of listening to families’ stories in the early intervention process.
Family-Professional Partnerships- CONNECT Module 4
This module describes effective practices for developing trusting family-professional partnerships in early care and education programs. It also uses a decision-making process to select partnership-oriented practices linked to (a) developing an initial friendly relationship, (b) making shared decisions, and (c) developing a trusting partnership with families to address challenging issues.
Head Start Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Simulation
This interactive activity from Head Start provides opportunities to explore and practice strategies useful in developing quality relationships with families. Simulation 1 allows you to practice building bonds with families, beginning with an intake visit. Simulation 2 explores the process of developing and implementing goals with families. Simulation 3 explores using strengths-based attitudes to partner with families during challenging times. Simulation 4 allows you to practice using collaborative strategies to partner with families during conversations about developmental concerns.
Keeping In Touch (KIT) Newsletters
These newsletters from the US Department of Defense (DoD) Army Educational & Developmental Intervention Services (EDIS) offer two series on family-centered practices - one series entitled “Ensuring the Genuine Application of Family-Centered Practices in Early Intervention” and another series “Early Intervention – A Parent Perspective”.
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Children's Learning
Video Clips from Course:
Experiences Build Brain Architecture
This video from the National Scientific Council on The Developing Child at Harvard University describes basics of brain architecture from a neuro-science perspective. Available at: http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/multimedia/videos/three_core_concepts/brain_architecture/
Serve and Return Interaction Shapes Brain Circuitry
This clip from a video from the National Scientific Council on The Developing Child at Harvard University, describes the critical importance of early relationships. Available at: http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/multimedia/videos/three_core_concepts/serve_and_return/
Still Face Experiment: Dr. Edward Tronick
This video illustrates the still face experiment that further illustrates the power of relationships in children’s learning. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apzXGEbZht0
Toxic Stress Derails Healthy Development
This clip from the three-part video series from the National Scientific Council on The Developing Child at Harvard University, includes information that defines toxic stress and its impact. Available at: http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/multimedia/videos/three_core_concepts/toxic_stress/
Additional Resources:
Division of Early Childhood Recommended Practices, 2014.
Select INSTRUCTION and INTERACTION tabs. Available at: http://ectacenter.org/decrp/decrp.asp
Division of Early Childhood (DEC) Checklists and Practices Guides from ECTA:
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Natural Environments
Video Clips from Course:
A Home Visit with Kris and Kiyah
In this clip an early intervention teacher supports a father to embed opportunities for his child to learn and participate in the family's everyday activities such as getting ready for childcare and taking a walk. Available at http://dmm.cci.fsu.edu/IADMM/videoexamples/KrisKiyah.html
Early Intervention: A Routines-Based Approach - Part 1: Traditional vs Routines-Based Approach
This clip from a video from the Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center addresses the shift from traditional child-centered services to routines-based intervention in natural family routines. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpxGC6G0HMY&feature=youtu.be
Early Intervention and Child Care…Natural Partners in Natural Environments
This clip from EITP describes what early intervention in natural environments is and why partnering with families is important. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMcTEch--Lc
Families Talk about the Toy Bag
In this clip a family talks about the advantages of using their own toys rather than the provider bringing the toy bag. Available at http://dmm.cci.fsu.edu/IADMM/videoexamples/ToyBag.html
Natural Environments
This six video series from Early On Michigan introduces the viewer to the natural environment requirements in the delivery of early intervention services. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kdXseo9AeU
Additional Resources:
Identifying Family Activities and Routines Conversation Starters.
http://tactics.fsu.edu/pdf/HandoutPDFs/TaCTICSHandouts/Module1/ConversationStarters.pdf
Promoting Young Children’s Participation in Interest-Based Everyday Learning Activities.
http://fipp.org/static/media/uploads/casecollections/casetools_vol2_no5.pdf
The Power of Play and Children’s Learning birth to age three.
http://main.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/ThePowerofPlay.pdf
12 Steps Program to Decrease Toy Bag Dependence
http://dmm.cci.fsu.edu/IADMM/materials/12steps.pdf
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Adult Learning
Video Clips from Course:
Coaching Support
In this clip the early interventionist uses coaching to support and facilitate the parent’s learning while practicing a new strategy to help her child participate in play by crawling. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXSXA1-bYos
Early Intervention: A Routines-Based Approach – Part 2: What Intervention Can and Should Look Like
This clip from the Virginia Early intervention Professional Development Center, explains what early intervention, including family routines and coaching. Available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL_WOCu3Ptg
Early Intervention Home Visits
This video from Connecticut explains what early intervention visits are and what happens on a visit. The clip is helpful to explain visits to help families and other stakeholders. Available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fOJGmIdj0c
Home Visiting – A Closer Look
This clip from the Pew Foundation highlights a mother talking about the benefits of the home visiting program in which she participated. Available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOhUpaabPDE
Home Visiting Practices for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and Their Families
In this clip you will hear Dr. Robin McWilliam discuss the shift of early intervention from child-centered to family-centered practices and supporting families as adult learning partners. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUwcRFgbdYk
Video Exemplars of Toolkit Practices
This link from the Florida Early Steps program includes video clips that illustrate coaching strategies used during intervention visits. Available at http://www.cpeip.fsu.edu/earlysteps/testtoolkit/test/video.html
Additional Resources:
Early Intervention Strategies for Success Blog: Sharing What Works in Supporting Infants & Toddlers and their Families in Early Intervention (a resource of the Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center):
Implementing Information About Adult Learners in Family-guided Activity Based Intervention: A Checklist.
http://tactics.fsu.edu/pdf/HandoutPDFs/TaCTICSHandouts/Module3/AdultLearner.pdf
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Quality Teaming
Video Clips from Course:
CONNECT Video 3.3: Conversation with examples of attending and active listening
From the Connect Modules, this video module explores active listening during a team meeting between two teachers. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxQ2xk1s8bU
How to Run an Effective Team Meeting
This clip from Rasheed Ogunlaru, Coach–Speaker–Author, describes how to run an effective team meeting. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfYNhu1PI-A
Early Intervention: A Routines-Based Approach – Part 3: Changing the Mindset
This clip from a video from the Virginia Early intervention Professional Development Center, includes providers sharing how they changed their own practices and what it took to make the change. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA6IOf9A298&feature=share&list=UUDNrV5XsIRCWWN9n7FqGfpA
The IFSP Video
This example from EITP provides an example of an IFSP team meeting in which many things go wrong. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLgbOeEEaRM
Additional Resources:
Division of Early Childhood Recommended Practices (2014) from ECTA.
Select TEAMING and COLLABORATION tab. Available at http://ectacenter.org/decrp/decrp.asp
Division of Early Childhood (DEC) Checklists and Practices Guides from ECTA:
Early Intervention Strategies for Success Blog: Sharing What Works in Supporting Infants & Toddlers and their Families in Early Intervention
This resource from the Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center is titled "Adult Learning Principle #5: Feedback is How We Grow". Available at http://veipd.org/earlyintervention/adult-learning-principle-5-feedback-is-how-we-grow/
14 Ways to Help Teams Communicate Better
Good general tips to avoid miscommunication and to promote effective work. Available at http://www.workshifting.com/2014/07/14-ways-help-teams-communicate-better.html
King, G., Strachan, D., & Tucker, M. (2009). The application of a transdisciplinary model for early intervention services. Infants & Young Children, 22(3), 211-223.
Article available at http://journals.lww.com/iycjournal/Fulltext/2009/07000/The_Application_of_a_Transdisciplinary_Model_for.6.aspx
The 7 C’s of Communication: A Checklist for Clear Communication
A short video and article on clear verbal and written communication. Available a: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_85.htm
Using Family-Centered, Relationship-Based Practices-Module 3, Chapter 6 of Delaware Birth to Three Early Intervention.
Available at: http://unc-fpg-cdi.adobeconnect.com/finaldem3ch6/
Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center Videos
The following link includes the Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center listing of all videos for training and personal change. Available at http://www.veipd.org/main/videos.html
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Resource Version of Modules
Family-Centered Practices
Children's Learning
Natural Environments
Adult Learning
Quality Teaming
Closing
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