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By Kimberly Hile, Ph.D.

Families entering the “world” of early intervention or early childhood special education do so under a wide variety of circumstances. For some, this may be their first time as a parent; therefore they may have limited awareness of the supports available for their family. Others may have walked through a similar journey before and understand their role in the process. Still others may come from a place of uncertainty or even resistance to accepting the fact that their family story may follow a different path than what they initially envisioned.

Regardless of where a family is coming from, every family deserves, and has a right, to be fully included and play a primary role in their child’s intervention services. In order for early childhood professionals to serve as effective partners, they need a solid understanding of how to view each family in light of their current circumstances. Professionals need the tools to meet each family “where they are” while striving to actively involve family members in the manner in which they are comfortable being engaged.

Family practices encompass three themes:

  1. Family-centered practices: Practices that treat families with dignity and respect; are individualized, flexible, and responsive to each family’s unique circumstances;; provide family members complete and unbiased information to make informed decisions; and involve family members in acting on choices to strengthen child, parent, and family functioning.
  2. Family capacity-building practices: Practices that include the participatory opportunities and experiences afforded to families to strengthen existing parenting knowledge and skills and promote the development of new parenting abilities that enhance parenting self-efficacy beliefs and practices.
  3. Family and professional collaboration: Practices that build relationships between families and professionals who work together to achieve mutually agreed upon outcomes and goals that promote family competencies and support the development of the child.

Image Justin with LEGO Mac by Edward Liu, Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0, Obtained 6-13-2016