INVOLVING FAMILIES

in Assessment and Intervention

A Toolkit for Early Childhood Educators

young child’s healthy development depends on many factors, including early assessment and intervention for children who

have delays or disabilities. When parents and other caregivers are involved as active partners, everyone benefits: families,

programs, and children!

In this toolkit, you’ll get strategies, tip sheets, and other tools for keeping families involved and engaged throughout the whole process of assessment and intervention. Discover the why and the how of family participation, get guidance on overcoming challenges, and find links to more helpful resources.

CONTENTS

The Why: Benefits of Family Involvement
Families Are True Experts
Family Involvement is a Mandate
Families Can Ease the Assessment Process
Family Involvement Increases Satisfaction
The How: 5 Steps to Strengthening Family Participation
Troubleshooting: How to Overcome Challenges to Family Participation

The Why: Benefits of Family Involvement

Family input, engagement, and participation are critical success factors in assessment and intervention. That’s because:

• Families are true experts on their child
• Family involvement is a mandate
• Families can ease the assessment process
• Family involvement increases their satisfaction

Read more about the benefits of family involvement on the next few pages!

Families Are True Experts

As experts on their child, families can aid in assessment by offering critical information about their child from their unique perspectives. Families can share information about:

• Their child’s temperament and physical needs, which may help you understand a child’s reaction to different assessment situations.
• Their child’s daily routine, which will help you have culturally sensitive expectations for the child.
• How they encourage and limit their child at home.
• Family dynamics, which can help you build rapport with the family and child and provide more accurate assessments.
• Their child’s preferences, allowing adjustments during assessments.
• Their priorities and goals for their child.

Adapted from Assessing Young Children in Inclusive Settings, Second Edition.

Family Involvement is a Mandate

Family involvement in assessment and intervention is emphasized in various legislation and standards:

• NAEYC Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) Position Statement on assessment.
• Head Start Program Performance Standards require family engagement.
• DEC Recommended Practices stress the importance of partnerships with families.

Families Can Ease the Assessment Process

Families can ease the assessment process by:

• Participating in planning.
• Taking part in interviews and helping to gather information.
• Testing their child and ensuring that collected information represents their abilities.

Even with active family involvement in assessment, it’s crucial for professionals to guide families in choosing appropriate interventions.

Family Involvement Increases Satisfaction

Research shows that using family-centered practices leads to empowerment and a higher level of parent well-being, benefiting the child significantly.

The How: 5 Steps to Strengthening Family Participation

• Share introductory information with families
• Involve families in observing and gathering information
• Partner with families for IFSP/IEP development and intervention planning
• Work with families on teaching/intervention strategies
• Share results and engage families in progress monitoring

STEP 1 Share introductory information with families

It’s important to start things on the right foot with families!

• Explain to the family your program’s philosophy, procedures, and range of services.
• Share family handouts that will help them understand the assessment process.
• Encourage family discussions about their concerns and interests.
• Discuss the necessary program forms with the family.
• Discuss confidentiality procedures.

STEP 2 Involve families in observing and gathering information

Families should provide crucial insights about their child’s development and participation in daily activities, helping the team choose appropriate intervention targets.

7 strategies for involving families in gathering assessment information

• Provide written or verbal information regarding the child’s background.
• Confirm or question previously gathered information.
• Facilitate observations during assessments.
• Complete formal and informal checklists regarding the child’s skills.
• Identify strategies for best observing and documenting their child’s performance.

STEP 3 Partner with families to discuss results and plan next steps

After data collection:

• Summarize assessment results for families.
• Discuss the family’s goals for their child.
• Prioritize IFSP/IEP outcomes collaboratively.
• Design customized teaching/intervention activities.
• Determine an acceptable plan for monitoring progress.

STEP 4 Work with families on teaching and intervention strategies

Involve families in the child’s skill development.

• Suggest specific teaching strategies.
• Encourage regular team communication.

STEP 5 Share results and engage families in progress monitoring

Keep families informed about their child’s progress.

• Use progress monitoring information to update goals and intervention activities as needed.

Troubleshooting: How to Overcome Challenges to Family Participation

Addressing family fears:

• Provide parent-friendly information.
• Ask families about their preferences for information.

Busy schedules:

• Give advance notice for meetings.
• Evaluate families’ needs for support in involvement.
• Offer flexibility in scheduling.

Cultural/language barriers:

• Choose suitable tools for diversity.
• Use interpreters when necessary.

The information in this toolkit was adapted from these essential resources:

Assessment, Evaluation, and Programming System for Infants and Children, Third Edition (AEPS®-3)

Assessing Young Children in Inclusive Settings

Developed to align with Division for Early Childhood Recommended Practices.