We surveyed Early Care and Education (ECE) providers across Allegheny County and asked them to share the strengths they bring to the process of supporting families with early intervention (EI) services.
Recognizing that families may be nervous about the stigma of receiving services, ECE providers are in a position to listen, guide, and support. The quotes that follow are words of wisdom directly from the ECE field.
“It’s extremely important to support families receiving or looking to receive EI services for their children. We connect families with resources, and teachers love getting information from EI providers to use with other children in their care.”
— ECE Program Director
“I work with children and families and make referrals for EI. We work together to schedule an evaluation and to make sure the necessary information is available. We do the ASQ (screening tool) regularly to help identify needs.”
— ECE Classroom Teacher
“Through parent-teacher conferences, we provide families with feedback on their child’s development and provide resources for EI services. These resources are also available at our front entrance.”
“I bring understanding and a listening ear. It can sometimes be scary for parents when they are told their child might need some help.”
“Sometimes testing or screening tools don’t catch everything. So, as a provider and as an advocate, voicing my concerns and making sure that not only am I heard, but my families are also heard, is extremely important.”
“I believe in building relationships before any learning happens within a preschool classroom… so that we can all work together.”
Talking to families about EI or other early childhood supports can be hard. Having tools integrated into your ECE program can support program directors and teachers during these conversations. Here are some of the best practices that programs across Allegheny County are using to talk to families about early intervention:
During enrollment:
Once families enroll, regularly engage with families and respect that they are the expert on their child.
Many ECE programs complete developmental screenings regularly and use these as an opportunity to talk to families about their child’s development at parent-teacher conferences. Many programs recommend using the ASQ3 (ASQ/Ages and Stages Questionnaire). Trying Together regularly offers Intro to ASQ professional development courses which you can request by filling out the custom professional development form.
If your program does not use a screening tool, you may choose to refer to developmental checklists. One recommended resource is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
