EILA Week 4 An Overview of the Impact of Early Intervention Services: Family Outcomes

1. EILA Week 4An Overview of the Impact of Early Intervention Services: Family Outcomes Sue Mistrett

2. Learning objectives In this presentation you will: • Learn about the development of the family outcomes. The Early Childhood Outcomes center (ECO) recommended 5 family outcomes, OSEP selected 3. • Identify the 3 Family Outcomes to be measured on State Performance Plans • Consider various state systems used to measure family outcomes

3. What is a Family Outcome? • According to the Bailey and Bruder reading this week, a family outcome is a benefit experienced by families as a result of services and supports received • An outcome is not the receipt of services or satisfaction with services • An outcome is what happens as a result of services provided to families

4. Goal for Families • Enable families to provide appropriate care for their child • Have resources they need to participate in community activities

5. Early Childhood Outcomes Center (ECO) Stakeholder Issues • How can a national system to assess family outcomes accommodate the wide range of individualized outcomes? • Should a similar set of family outcomes be expected of early intervention and preschool programs?

6. ECO Process Technical Workgroup on Family Outcomes • Developed priority outcome statements based on commonalities across the literature ECO Constituent Workgroups & Public Comment • Reacted to and tweaked the resulting list of outcome statements

7. ECO Stakeholders • Recommended 3 child and 5 family outcomes (Feb 2005, revised April 2005) • Recommended that the same set of family outcomes be used birth through five • Recommended family report of perceptions as the measurement strategy

8. Families understand their children’s strengths, abilities and special needs. Families know their rights and advocate effectively for their children. Families help their children develop and learn. Families have support systems. Families are able to gain access to desired services, programs and activities in their community. Know their rights Effectively communicate their children's needs Help their children develop and learn Outcomes:ECO OSEP

9. OSEP Selects 3 Family Outcomes • Family Outcomes are Indicator #4 for the State Performance Plans “Percent of families participating in Part C who report that early intervention services have helped the family: A. Know their rights B. Effectively communicate their children's needs C. Help their children develop and learn”

10. Family Outcomes Process • ECO recommends outcomes • OSEP finalizes outcomes • States determine measurement system • ECO provides guidance on measurement • Technical assistance • Family ECO survey tool developed

11. Data from Families: State Approaches • National Center for Special Education Monitoring (NCSEAM) Survey –measures family involvement; also produces data for federal reporting • ECO Family Outcomes Survey –measures family outcomes; also produces data for federal reporting • State developed surveys –many had been and continue to use satisfaction surveys

13. State Decisions • ECO Survey: 14 states • State developed: 7 states • NCSEAM survey: 26 states • Undecided: 3 states

14. NCSEAM Survey • National Center for Special Education Accountability Monitoring • Funded by OSEP to assist states, local agencies, and OSEP in the implementation of focused monitoring and evidenced-based compliance with federal law for improved results for children with disabilities and their families.

15. Guidance for States • This week’s reading by Bailey, Bruder & Hebbler, provides Guidance for States in Documenting Family Outcomes for Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education • Challenges to measuring family outcomes are described and recommended solutions are offered.