Module One: Lesson One

The Role of Service Providers in Early Steps

To facilitate the enhanced family-centered approach of Early Steps, the roles and responsibilities of service providers in working with families are defined as follows:

• consulting with families, other service providers, and representatives of appropriate community agencies to ensure the effective provision of services in that area
• training families and others regarding the provision of those services
• participating in the multidisciplinary team's assessment of a child and the child's family
• developing integrated goals and functional outcomes for the Individualized Family Support Plan

The critical elements of effective family-centered early intervention are communication between the family and service providers and respect for the ability of each family to make informed decisions about their child. Perhaps for you, and other service providers who have traditionally provided services from a child-centered perspective, this means adapting to service delivery approaches that support, strengthen and empower the family to meet their child's needs in a family- or caregiver-centered system. This re-conceptualization of your role may also include enhancing your skills in listening to and communicating with families and primary caregivers, as well as being aware of cultural diversity and respecting the individual differences of families in how they choose to address their child's needs.

previous | next