Topics covered in this course include: working with culturally and linguistically diverse families, relationship-based early intervention, quality assurance, transition planning, and collaboration.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe strategies to work with and support families from diverse backgrounds.
- Describe principles and benefits of relationship-based early intervention services.
- Discuss the quality assurance process in Early Start from the federal and state through the local levels.
- Identify the required components and timelines for an individualized transition plan.
- Discuss collaboration both within the IFSP team and across early childhood partner agencies.
Topics Covered in Each Two-Week Lesson Cycle
Weeks 1-2: Working with Diverse Families
- Legal requirements
- Diversity: cultural competence, awareness, reflection, and impact
- Learning about the family: values, characteristics, traditions
- Strategies to promote successful cross-cultural interactions
- Services and supports
Weeks 3-4: Relationship-Based Early Intervention
- Relationships: parent/child, parent/professional, family/ professional, professional/professional
- Key concepts
- The importance of the parallel process
- Strategies: supporting by being with, not doing for
- The Mutual Competence Model
Weeks 5-6: Quality Assurance in Early Intervention
- Early Start quality assurance terms
- The State Performance Plan (SPP) and the Annual Performance Report (APR)
- The importance of data in quality assurance
- High quality data
- Federal and state reporting requirements, systems, and outcomes
Weeks 7-8: Transition Planning
- Options for transition at age 3
- Supporting families throughout the transition process
- Transition timeline and activities
- Required documentation and meetings
Weeks 9-10: Collaboration With the Early Start Team and Community Resources
- IFSP team members
- Types of teams: multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary
- Core provider model for Early Start
- Interagency agreements and collaboration
- Working with other community partners