Contemporary Practices in Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) will introduce participants to the five key elements of early childhood intervention. Participants will be provided with procedures, documents and strategies useful for implementing these key elements

Topics & Program of Seminars

1. Education Topic: Basic elements of early intervention

The session will introduce participants to the essentials of PHC: Family-centered care, natural settings, team services, individualized services, and evidence-based practice. Emphasis will be placed on implementing family-centered care within the physical environment using a team model in contemporary practices.

Practical aspects: Teamwork? Ecological mapping

2. Training topic: Developing a responsive, family-centered intervention plan

The session will provide skills for creating an intervention plan that makes sense for the family and meets the child's needs. A process will be taught that incorporates how to gather functional information about the child and his/her habits, family concerns, priorities, and resources, and how to organize the information in a way that links outcomes to services, strategies, and determination of progress. MEISR will be used as intelligence gathering systems.

Practical aspects: Completion of a MEISR

Guest Speaker: Dr Eleni Karantana, Developmental Pediatrician, Private, MD, PhD

3. Training Topic: Creating Measurable, Operational Results and Goals

The session will guide participants in creating outcomes for young children from birth to age 7. Information from the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center's (ECTACenter.org) development of high-quality, functional IFSP outcomes and IEP goals will be used to provide examples of forms and formats for developing outcomes and goals.

Practical Aspects: Writing Participatory Outcomes

Guest Speaker: Manoli Chrysoula, Occupational Therapist

4. Training Topic: Implementation of the Plan: Mentoring, Interdisciplinary Services and Primary Service Provider (PSP)

The session will instruct participants to intervene with families using the primary service model. Coaching will be taught as the strategy that PSP provides specific services.

Practical aspects: Coaching

Guest Speaker: Anna Iliadi, Occupational Therapist