The Family’s Role in Assessment

This book discusses and analyzes numerous aspects of assessment in early intervention and early childhood special education, including evaluations of early development, severe disabilities, cognitive functioning, and school readiness.

Offers recommended practices for family-centered, evidence-based intervention and team collaboration to ensure the best possible outcomes for infants and young children involved in early intervention programs.

This book is about digging deeper and looking closer at what it takes to have successful relationships with each and every family. The authors explore seven partnership concepts, brought to life through the words and perspectives of families and professionals themselves.

With a focus on how families and professionals can collaborate effectively so that infants and toddlers learn, grow, and thrive, this book reflects research and best-practices in the field of early intervention. The book includes a chapter on assessment and planning outlining how parents and professionals can work together throughout the process.

Produced by the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois Early Intervention Training Program, this video presents an example of a meeting where families and professionals develop an individualized family services plan meeting.

This video illustrates the early intervention assessment and IFSP development processes for Lily, a young toddler, and her family. While specific to Virginia’s EI system, the concepts discussed apply to all of Part C.

This video provides a comprehensive, easy-to-follow introduction to early intervention services, including how parents can best communicate with professionals on how to meet the needs of their young child.

This national technical assistance center supports state early intervention and early childhood special education programs in implementing high-quality programming and enhancing outcomes for young children. The outcomes team of the ECTA Center provides national leadership in assisting states with the implementation of high-quality child and family outcomes measurement for early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE) programs.

This article offers ideas to strengthen the understanding of the importance of family-centered practices during the IFSP or IEP planning process, presents strategies that professionals can use to empower families, and shares ideas on how to convey a personalized view of the child to team members.

Strategies for parent participation as consumers,informants, team members, and advocates are discussed as well as outcomes for children and families.

This article shows how information gathered in the assessment process is used to develop goals for young children and families.

This article describes how to introduce a family to the early intervention system and involve them in the assessment process

The RBI is a method for gathering information on the everyday routines, activities, and events of children and families, which is important for outcomes and interventions that make a difference for children and families. Once professionals conduct these interviews, they connect better with the family and attend to more meaningful interventions.

This list provides resources to help providers discuss difficult topics with parents. Web articles, books, journal articles, and organizations are listed.

Many parents feel nervous about parent-teacher conferences or other talks with their children’s teachers or caregivers. Here are some parent-tested hints to help you have good meetings with the people at your child’s program.

Linda bites her classmates. Nate’s rude talk upsets everybody. But the parents seem stunned when you tell them you would like to find ways to help their child get along better at school. Here are some suggestions that may help when parents say, “He doesn’t do that at home!”

This tip sheet includes methods and strategies for gathering information from families and promoting their participation during the assessment process.

This resource highlights the value of sharing information and describes how to share information among parents and providers.

This resource list from the Center for Parent Information and Resources provides information for families and providers on parent involvement in early intervention.

This list provides assessment checklists and practice guides for practitioners and families.

This module includes RBI videos, tools and related resources for the EI/ECSE fields.