Transcript EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION IN EUROPEAN CONTEXT

KEY ASPECTS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS IN EARLY
CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION
STEFANIJA ALIŠAUSKIENĖ
2009
Budapest
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Short introduction into Early Childhood
Intervention (ECI)
Recommendations of ECI European
Agency project
Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) relates to
the right of very young children and their
families to receive the support they might need
– usually it is a multi-professional support
(medical, educational, psychological, social) for
young children (0 -3) at risk / with
developmental disorders and their families.
ECI aims to support and empower the child,
the family and the services involved.
European Agency for Development in Special Needs
Education in 2003 – 2005 carried out the project “Early
Childhood Intervention”
22 experts from 19 European countries took part in a project.
Five main aspects have been analysed in a project process:
▪ Availability (ECI reaches all children and families in need)
▪ Proximity (near to a place and near to a person)
▪ Affordability (cost free services/provision)
▪ Interdisciplinary working (involves professionals from
various disciplines)
▪ Diversity (health, education, social sectors share
responsibilities)
The European / international documents published in the
last 20-30 years, highlighted the progression of change
from intervention mainly focused on the child to a
broader approach, where
the focus was placed on the child in a family and the
community contexts.
The new concept of early childhood intervention (ECI) has
been developed, in which health, education and social
sciences, particularly psychology, were directly
involved.
The ecological-systemic approach provides a systemic
way of analysing, understanding and supporting the
young child and his/her family.
Family members/ parents are the partners in the
process of intervention.
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ECI covers any action undertaken when a child needs
special support in order to:
ensure and enhance her/his personal development
strengthen the family’s own competences
promote the social inclusion of the family and the
child
These actions are to be provided in the child’s natural
setting, preferably at a local level, with familyoriented and multi-dimensional teamwork approach.
Recommendations
Availability (1)
ECI needs to reach all children and families in need as
early as possible.
Recommendations
Availability (2)
Availability of information
Clear and precise information about ECI services should
be offered at local, regional and national levels to
families and professionals from all services using precise
and accessible language.
Recommendations
Availability (3)
Clear definition of target groups
ECI centres and professionals should focus on the
defined target groups, according to priorities established
at local, regional and national levels.
Recommendations
Proximity (1)
Decentralisation of services
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ECI services and provision should be located as close
as possible to the families in order to:
Facilitate better knowledge of the conditions of the
families’ social environment
Ensure the same quality of service despite differences in
location (rural areas, villages etc.)
Avoid overlaps, irrelevant or misleading pathways
Recommendations
Proximity (2)
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Meeting the needs of families and children
ECI needs to protect the rights of a child and a family
Families have the right to be informed and to decide
together with professionals on the next steps
The development of a written document (Individual
Plan) needs to be prepared by professionals together
with families.
Families should receive training upon request, which
would help them to obtain the required skills and
knowledge.
Recommendations
Affordability
In order to ensure that ECI services reach all families
and young children in need, it is necessary that cost
free services are made available for the families.
Recommendations
Interdisciplinary working
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ECS involves professionals from various disciplines and
different backgrounds. In order to ensure quality
teamwork, are suggested:
Co-operation with families as the main partners of the
professionals :
Professionals have to initiate co-operation and have
the respectful attitude towards the family - to understand
their needs without imposing their point of view
Professionals should organise meetings - to discuss
different issues with parents; together set up an agreed
document (Individual Plan).
Team building approach – share principles, objectives,
working strategies.
Recommendations
Diversity
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In order to ensure that health, education and social
sectors involved in ECI services share responsibilities,
the adequate coordination of sectors is suggested:
All sectors should be involved in early detection in
order to avoid gaps /delays that might affect further
development of the child/family/intervention.
Developmental screening needs to be well known
and systemically implemented.
Services should ensure continuity of the required
support when children are moving from one provisions to
another.
Thank You !
Time for reflections