Including Parents In Alaska Child Outcomes

Alaska Child Outcomes Development Summer 2005 – General Supervision Enhancement Grant (GSEG) Infant & Toddler group formed as a subset of a larger GSEG group

AK GSEG Infant & Toddler Workgroup Goals 1.Develop Infant & Toddler Outcomes Standards, based on ECO recommendations 2.Aligned with state outcome standards 3.Define child outcome measurements and targets 4.Provide recommendations for EI/ILP data enhancement or development

Alaska Early Childhood Providers Child Outcomes Pilot Initiated Spring participating Agencies

Pilot parent inclusion: Parent input is critical - Family members see the child in situations that professionals do not.

Pilot parent inclusion continued: Need to ask family members about what the child does at home and what family members know about the child. There is no expectation that parents will be able to determine whether what they are seeing is age appropriate.

Pilots parent inclusion continued: Alaska offers parents the choice to participate in outcome rating. Professionals explain why the rating is being done and what it means.

Outcomes in Action Survey of 10 pilot providers completed August % return rate (8 of 10)

How Do You Gather Information to inform the Rating - Comments Observation, parent report, assessment Evaluation, parent interview, observation Review assessment, medical records, therapist reports, parent report Assessment tools, parent observation, therapist reports Meeting with child and family, evaluations and observations Intake information, evaluation, discussion with family while completing the outcome rating

What Are the Challenges Difficult to complete, esp. with more involved children Completing in a timely manner Involving family with the outcomes rating form First rating is overwhelming for family and difficult to explain Difficult to teach staff to present in a family friendly way without depending on the form Does not seem appropriate at intake, too much to do at time of enrollment Difficult to complete when family is not ready at time of enrollment or for children who receive less frequent services

Challenges note: Many families in the Northern and Western regions of Alaska continue to speak native languages (Inupiaq and Yupik) Oral Traditions, yet less verbal than English speakers 92 primary languages spoken in the Anchorage School District

What is Working Well Nice teaching tool for parents Can show great growth at discharge Improves family outlook on child’s development and future Nice summary of child’s functional skills, compliments annual assessments Demonstrates accountability Substantiates need for increased funding Increases parent understanding of child development

Alaska Early Intervention/Infant Learning Program Full Outcomes Implementation 18 regional Early Intervention Programs initiated Outcomes ratings January 2007

Alaska Child Outcomes Data available FFY06 APR