This article reports on a study of practitioners' use of In-the-Picture -- a reflective, observational approach -- when delivering early intervention programmes to young disabled children. To date, In-the-Picture has been used mainly by researchers to study interactions and learning between young children, practitioners and the children's parents…

This paper reports observational data describing the content addressed and the processes employed by early special educators during home visits with children with disabilities (birth to three) and their families. Findings indicated that a model of child-focused intervention was most frequently implemented. Home visits especially tended to focus on…

The handbook describes the Home Start Training Center's approach to serving Head Start families. Much of the program is focused on the Portage Project and on early intervention efforts for preschoolers. The first of the major parts of the handbook presents an overview of the approach, reviewing the philosophy of parent-focused home-based…

The paper analyzes the significance of parents' play routines as an aspect of home intervention programing of play behaviors with developmentally delayed young children. Three sources of child development research are noted: the studies demonstrating a rationale for parent-child play, emphasis on the early aspect of intervention, and the use of…

The final report describes the development of a program to train neighborhood mothers as home visitors to families with a handicapped child under age 3. The following program aspects are detailed (sample subtopics in parentheses): population (referral sources, family and child characteristics); staff (changes in staffing pattern, hiring core…

The manual is intended to help home visitors, teachers, handicapped coordinators, parents, and others who work with young handicapped children in home based programs and to supplement training provided by the Home Start Training Centers. The manual contains 10 author contributed chapters. An introductory chapter by R. Boyd briefly considers…

The checklist and manual are designed to measure changes in parental skills as a result of both group and individualized programing in a home based prescriptive infant program. Guidelines are also given on setting behavioral goals for parents that can be addressed by program activities. The inventory is divided into seven skill areas: parental…

Information on a national survey of 643 home visiting programs serving families with children under 3 years of age is presented. Data include family characteristics, purpose of home visits, services provided, organizational structure, the conduct of home visits, home visitor employment and training, and program evaluation efforts. (Author/DB)

Project Sunrise, a home based parent training model, was designed to serve preschool handicapped children living in rural areas of Montana. Literature was reviewed on when to begin educational intervention, the results of early intervention, the types of intervention most effective, the positive effects of parent education, and the benefits of…

This article proposes that combining home visits with service coordination could be an effective method of determining what services are needed by families of young children with disabilities and at the same time providing intervention in the home setting. Competencies needed for this dual position of service coordinator and home visitor are…

A study compared the progress of 12 Greek children (ages 8 months to 5 years) with disabilities who received a weekly educational visit from early interventionists for 2 years with that of 12 controls. Results showed significant gains for treated children in overall functioning level and in different domains of development. (Contains references.)…

Home care has not consistently proven to prevent institutionalization, reduce mortality rates, reduce hospital use, or improve functional status and morale; and indeed, these objectives may be unreasonable. Rather, the purpose of home care should be to meet immediate needs of recipients which they can no longer meet themselves. Publicly-funded…

This article explores how providing early intervention in natural environments reinforces family-centered care, discusses benefits for all parties when therapy is provided within daily routines and settings, describes a decision-making process for embedding natural environments within intervention, and concludes by identifying challenges and…

This report discusses home visiting, identifies six key elements common to programs for infants and toddlers that make effective use of home visiting strategies, and profiles successful home visiting programs. It begins by discussing home visiting services and outcomes of home visiting programs. The six key elements of effective home visiting are…

Designed as a starting point for anyone interested in home-based programs, this packet provides resources and basic information for program development and describes in particular the Child Development Associate (CDA) Program, a national effort embodying a new concept of training, assessing, and credentialing child care staff. Brief background…