A study of state Part H coordinators investigated conflict management in early-intervention systems. Results found that 41 state agencies have already established a formal statewide mediation option for resolution of disputes related to Part H between families of infants and young children and early-intervention agencies and programs. (CR)

A study of 42 persons involved in providing early intervention services investigated perspectives on reporting abuse and neglect of children with disabilities. Participants described relatively few strengths within current reporting systems and several challenges affecting decisions to report abuse or neglect. Recommendations for reducing these…

This article reviews studies of early diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder. It discusses diagnostic criteria, reliability of early diagnosis, and the need for a comprehensive evaluation. Currently, there are no objective measures that can be used for accurate diagnosis, and the diagnosis remains clinical. Guidelines for evaluation are provided.…

The rise in the number of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is discussed and information is offered on behaviors signaling the need for referral in very young children. Positive and negative effects of medications are discussed, along with specific behavioral coping strategies for both home and group care. (Contains…

This article reviews the nature and source of pain in young children with disabilities, challenges facing the clinician, and approaches for assessing and managing pain in infants and young children with significant neurologic impairments. The need for continued research to improve professional awareness and establish practice guidelines is urged.…

After reviewing attachment research, this article argues enhancing early child-parent relationships involves two principle tasks: helping parents identify children's needs and parents' responses to these needs; and helping parents gain insight into how their "states of mind with respect to attachment" influence their parenting behaviors and their…

This article reviews literature on the development of children with autism under 3 years. Findings on affective development, sensory processing and attention, praxis and imitation, communication, play, motor features and stereotyped behaviors are discussed, as are interrelationships among these aspects of development. Screening and diagnostic…

This article describes common federal and nongovernmental funding sources that provide early intervention services to families with young children who are disadvantaged or disabled. Three case studies portray how funding streams can be translated into coordinated services for children and families. Specific strategies include better service…

This article reports results of a national survey of 629 veteran and 704 referred parents participating in Parent to Parent programs, noting the program's role as part of comprehensive family-centered services for parents of young children with special needs. The survey collected information about where programs are, services they provide, and…

Explores the role of culture in assessment and the challenges of cultural dynamics and family issues relative to six areas of assessment: the target of assessment, the setting, the methods, the personnel, the uses, and the fusion of assessment with intervention. (CR)

Discusses the importance of screening infants and toddlers for social-emotional problems and the benefits of using parent-completed questionnaires in the screening process. Six screening tools that rely on parent report, including three experimental tools, are reviewed. Additionally, challenges to screening for social-emotional disorders are…

This article reports the findings from two research studies that investigated (1) the early intervention and referral practices knowledge of physicians (n=556) and (2) the practices of 32 Virginia Local Interagency Coordinating Council coordinators. Seventy-five percent of physicians felt knowledgeable about early intervention. Strategies to…

The ethical issues surrounding early intervention services to young children with disabilities are discussed. The conflict between parental autonomy and paternalistic interventions is evaluated. Value-based intervention decisions, such as parent choice of alternative therapies, refusal of services, and family-centered versus child-centered care,…

A rationale for and components of a development systems model are presented to guide early intervention programs. Core principles emphasizing a developmental framework, integration, and inclusion are expressed in the context of a multicomponent interactive system. The model's focus on maximizing family patterns of interaction by addressing…

Continuous quality improvement efforts are vital to high-quality early intervention services. This article describes an ongoing quality improvement project within an infant mental health-based Early Head Start program. Both strategies and challenges in implementing issues and lessons learned in the initial 2-year phase of the quality improvement…