Project Abstract

Purpose

Family-guided Approaches to Collaborative Early-intervention Training and Services (FACETS) will address the challenges associated with delivery of family-guided intervention by providing "how-to" information and training for family members, early interventionists, related service providers and administrators. It addresses meaningful family participation and decision making in the intervention planning process and offers strategies for assuring effective interdisciplinary and interagency collaboration throughout the intervention process.

Unique Features

The FACETS model consists of five distinct, replicable, and interacting components:

1. Family-guided Activity Based Intervention;
2. Using Daily Routines as a Context for Intervention;
3. Developmentally Appropriate, Child Centered Intervention Strategies;
4. Involving Careproviders in Teaching/Learning; and
5. Interagency/Interdisciplinary Team Planning and Progress Monitoring.

These components have been demonstrated to be effective and are supported by print and/or video materials allowing each to be adopted and replicated.

Outreach Targets

During the first year of the project there will be one initial outreach team selected from an early intervention program identified by the state lead agency in each of the five participating states. Each team will include family members, early interventionists, speciality disciplines, and administrators. One new training site within each state will be selected each year for a total of fifteen participating programs over the three years of the FACETS grant. First year sites will be selected within Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

Outreach Services

FACETS training sites, once identified, will complete a needs assessment. The information obtained from this assessment will provide the foundation upon which an individualized outreach program will be built. Training sites may choose from an array of training options to best suit their needs. The methods and procedures for this project include flexibility to adapt content and format of training for each site, opportunities for on-site follow-up activities, and a problem oriented, outcomes-based approach. Follow-up technical assistance will be available and can include side-by-side coaching, procedural demonstration, brainstorming sessions, Internet, fax, or video conferencing. Please see the Project Bulletin for complete details.

Site Selection

Year one states were identified on the basis of previous contacts with our demonstration and outreach projects and an expressed interest in furthering their development of family-guided approaches as supported by this project. Site adoption for subsequent years will be based on the following criteria:

• the site identifies a need corresponding to components of the FACETS model,
• the site commits to participate in the demonstration, evaluation and feedback activities associated with the model component(s) targeted,
• the site is recommended by the lead agency, training and TA or CSPD Unit,
• if possible, the site will be located in an empowerment zone or enterprise community, and
• commitment of family participation in training.

Outreach Impact

Outreach training and follow-up assistance will be provided to 5 new outreach sites per year, for a total of at least 15 programs, with an estimated impact on 225 inservice professionals and 750 children and families. Dissemination activities are expected to impact at least 50 agencies and 500 inservice professionals. The states' training and technical assistance units staff will be afforded the opportunity to participate in the trainings and have materials available for further dissemination.

Evidence of Effectiveness

This outreach model builds on the Southeast Kansas Birth to Three EEPCD model demonstration project (1990-1993) and the training content and procedures validated in the FACETS outreach training project (1993-1997). Effectiveness will be validated using a variety of instruments such as questionnaires, direct observation, personal contacts, follow-ups, and interviews.