Module One: Lesson One

As was mentioned earlier in this lesson, family-centered service delivery may require a reorientation for you and other service providers who are involved in Early Steps. Adopting a family-centered philosophy may require assessing how you work with families and considering if you regularly encourage and provide opportunities for family participation, if you support training other staff on family-centered practices, or if you promote the expansion of program flexibility. Please take a moment and complete the following activity.

In this excellent article, Family-Centered Early Intervention: Clarifying Our Values for the New Millennium, Mary Beth Bruder states, "It is the responsibility of those of us that work in this field to create systems of early intervention that reflect a family-centered philosophy embedded within the implementation of validated early intervention practices." She continues, "It is time to move beyond rhetoric and provide early intervention services and supports that are respectful, evidenced-based, and appropriate for each family's unique situation."

At the beginning of this article are three family stories. Read Cameron's story. When you are finished, please answer the following questions.

1. Given what you know about the Early Steps mission and philosophy about service provision, how would Cameron's story be different in the Early Steps system?

2. What can you, as an early intervention provider, do to promote a relationship in which family members work together with you to ensure the best services for the child and family?

previous | next