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Higher Education Introduction to:. Developing Functional IFSP Outcomes to Meet the Unique Needs of Children and their Families. Purpose of Early On :. to enhance the capacity of families to meet the special needs of their infants and toddlers with disabilities
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Higher EducationIntroduction to: Developing Functional IFSP Outcomes to Meet the Unique Needs of Children and their Families
Purpose of Early On: • to enhance the capacity of families to meet the special needs of their infants and toddlers with disabilities IDEA Part C Sec. 631 FINDINGS AND POLICY
Overarching Goal of Part C “All children will be active and successful participants in their own learning now and in the future in a variety of settings.” Early Childhood Outcomes Center How do we measure this goal? A. Children have positive social relationships. B. Children acquire and use knowledge and skills. • Children take appropriate action to meet their needs. How do we accomplish this? Develop IFSP outcomes with families that are based upon the child’s participation in daily life activities.
7 Key Principles of Early Intervention • Infants and toddlers learn best through everyday experiences and interactions with familiar people in familiar contexts. • All families, with the necessary supports and resources, can enhance their children’s learning and development. • The primary role of a service provider in early intervention is to work with, and support, family members and caregivers in children’s lives. Workgroup on Principles and Practices in Natural Environments (February, 2008) Seven key principles: Looks like / doesn’t look like. OSEP TA Community of Practice- Part C Settings. http://www.nectac.org/topics/families/families.asp
7 Key Principles of Early Intervention 4. The early intervention process must be dynamic and individualized to reflect the child’s and family member’s preferences, learning styles and cultural beliefs. 5. IFSP outcomes must be functional and based on children’s and families’ needs and family-identified priorities.
7 Key Principles of Early Intervention • The family’s priorities, needs and interests are addressed most appropriately by a primary provider who represents and receives team and community support. • Interventions with young children and family members must be based on explicit principals, validated practices, best available research, and relevant laws and regulations. TA Community of Practice: Workgroup on Principals and Practice in Natural Environments
The Reality Practitioner implemented interventions in the absence of parent capacity building, even 2 hours per day per week for 50 weeks, accounts for only about 1% of a child’s waking hours. Carl Dunst
Why Functional Outcomes • Provide direction for collaboration between family members and service providers about how to reach a family’s desired outcomes. • Identifying functional outcomes with families is the cornerstone for developing the IFSP • (Jung & Baird, 2003; Boone at al, 1998; McWilliam et al, 1998)
The focal point of the functional outcome is the child’s enhanced active involvement in activities or routines that are important to the family in order to promote the child’s learning, growth, and development.
Routines Based Conversations • Initiate discussions about everyday activities/routines • Listen to routines to obtain information about the child’s engagement, independence, and social relationships. • Listen for possible IFSP outcomes during the conversation. • Identify family priorities related to child’s participation in everyday activities
Routines Based Conversations • During the interview • Remind the family of the purpose • Tie in the interview to the family’s priorities • Put the family at ease • Questions should go beyond developmental questions
Why Functional Outcomes • More is Better* • BUT this means more learning opportunities, NOT more services; • Learning is what happens between visits of the professionals: • Throughout the child’s day, • In everyday routines and activities, • Through multiple repetitions and lots of practice, • The way ALL young children learn and participate with families and friends in their communities. * Thanks to Dr. Lee Ann Jung, 2003
Developmental Functional Different Approaches • Based on model of typical development • Outcomes selected for skills in a developmental hierarchy that child has not mastered • Based on promoting child & family success in current environments • Outcomes selected from routines-based needs
Different Approaches cont’d. Developmental Functional Addresses skills needed in home & community Context of behavior is basis of outcome • Identify & correct deficits • Context of behavior is irrelevant Adapted from R. A. McWilliamRoutines-Based Early Intervention
Functional IFSP Outcomes For a very young child, functionality means • engagement, • independence, and • social relationships. Early Intervention Training Center for Infants and Toddlers With Visual Impairments FPG Child Development Institute University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill R.A. McWilliam August 2004
Outcomes Should: • Focus on the whole child rather than discreet skills • Focus on the child’s participation in activity settings that are important to the family • Recognize the family as the primary agent of change in the child’s development
Outcomes Should Be…. • Jargon-free? • Discipline-free? • Based on the child’s participation in the family’s activities? • Promoting the child’s • Engagement in family activities? • Independence in family activities? • Social Relationships within family activities? • Understandable to all?
7 Steps for Writing Functional Outcomes: 1. Read the short-hand version of the outcome from a family-centered, functional needs assessment (e.g., RBI, activity checklist) 2. Find out what routine this affects 3. Write “Child will participate in [the routine(s) in question]”
Steps continued 6. Add another criterion for generalization, maintenance, or fluency, if appropriate. • Across routines, people, materials, places, etc. • Over time (See following step) • Rate of behavior 7. Over what amount of time
_______________ will participate in (Child) ________________________________ by (routine) ___________________________________________. (behavior) We will know this when he/she ____________________________________________ (measurable acquisition criteria) ___________________________________________. (duration - add the amount of time over which the behavior needs to be displayed. e.g. in one week)
Contact Information • Clinton County RESA, Early On Training & Technical Assistance: 1866-334-5437 • http://eotta.ccresa.org • Criss Hickey: hickey_c@ccresa.org • Jean Wassenaar: wassenaar_j@ccresa.org