1. Implementing the Child Outcomes Summary Process: Challenges, strategies, and benefits July, 2011
Welcome to a presentation on implementation issues related to using the Child Outcomes Summary process for measuring child outcomes. In implementing the Child Outcomes Summary process, states have discovered several important challenges, and have also developed strategies for addressing those challenges. At the same time, states have also discovered and articulated several important BENEFITS related to the use of the Child Outcomes Summary process. We will explore these issues in the following slides.

2. Purpose
This session outlines essential knowledge needed to effectively implement the Child Outcomes Summary Form (COSF) process.
Participants will identify challenges, strategies, and resources needed to address those challenges
Participants will discuss benefits of an effective COSF process

3. Essential knowledge for an effective Child Outcomes Summary Form (COSF) process
Assessment
Working as a team
Functional outcomes
Age-expected child development
Involving families
An effective Child Outcomes Summary Form process depends on many factors, including the ability to access information about the child’s functioning in the various settings that make up his or her everyday life. Team members should have a good understanding of age-expected child development in the three outcome areas, and be sure they understand the 7 points on the rating scale. The team also needs to be sensitive to cultural differences that affect families’ expectations for their child’s development, and be able to work together throughout the process. The next several slides offer examples of essential knowledge in these areas.

4. Essential knowledge: Assessment
Gathering assessment data to reflect functioning across settings and situations, especially gathering information on child functioning from families
Understanding the content of the three child outcomes and how to use the rating scale
Understanding the results of assessment data gathered by others
Sharing assessment results sensitively and honestly with families
One of the first challenges teams have identified when using the summary process is making sure they have enough functional assessment information to determine a rating on the 7 point scale. States and programs have different policies on how families are involved in determining the actual rating of the child’s functioning. However, assessment practices need to include gathering information about the child’s functioning in everyday life- this typically includes information from the child’s family, child care providers, and others who spend time with the child in various settings. Teams need to be skilled at communicating with families for purposes of both gathering information about the child, and sharing assessment information back with families.

5. Essential knowledge: Working as a team
Effective communication among professionals from different disciplines working together as a team
Defining the role(s) of team members in the COSF process
Handling differences in opinion about the rating
Utilizing the skills and strengths of individuals and multiple disciplines in the process
Communicating with one another about a child’s development can also be challenging for teams. Team members need the time and the willingness to share functional information with one another about the child, and having multiple sources of information adds to the validity of the rating. The rating must be a team decision (including the family!), not the opinion of one team member.

6. Essential knowledge: Functional outcomes
The meaning of “functional” outcomes: that they are meant to reflect the child’s ability to integrate skills across domains in order to get along with others, learn, and get their needs met.
How to use outcome information organized around domains
The difference between the broad outcomes we measure for accountability and the individual outcomes/goals we write for IFSPs and IEPs.

7. Essential knowledge: Age-expected child development
The functional expectations for children at different ages with regard to each of the three outcomes
The extent to which a child shows age-appropriate functioning, across a variety of settings and situations, in each outcome area
Understanding age expectations for child functioning within the child’s culture
Another essential area of knowledge for teams is the comparison of children’s skills and behaviors to those of their same-aged peers. To determine a rating in the child outcome summary process, teams must make that comparison. In other words, team members need to have a working knowledge of the skills and behaviors that are expected of children who are developing according to age expectations in the three outcome areas.

8. Essential knowledge: Involving families
Communicating with families about the child’s functioning at home and with family
Talking with families about assessment results in ways that are
- Sensitive
- Accurate
- Meaningful
Communication skills for working with diverse types of families, of differing economic status, language, culture, family composition, etc.
Utilizing family information is a key component of the child outcomes summary process. Team members need to be able to communicate with families about their children’s development, including both gathering information from families about their child’s functioning, and sharing assessment results with families. Team members need to have skills and support in working with a diverse group of children and families, encompassing differences such as economic, language, culture, and family composition, among others.

9. Benefits of the COSF Process
What do you see as some benefits in using the COSF process?
For children?
For families?
For providers and staff?
For the program or district?
For the state?
Some of what we have heard about how participation in the outcomes summary process benefits teams and programs:
The collaborative nature of the process ‘forces’ staff to communicate with one another.
The functional nature of the outcomes process has improved the functionality of IFSP and IEP goals.
Families have expressed appreciation for a more functional, and less domain-specific, conversation about how their children are socializing, learning, and learning to get their own needs met.
Opportunities to collaborate with other staff, other programs
Stronger collaboration between Part C and preschool (especially when both programs are using the COSF)
Improved IFSP/IEP goals
Improved communication with families about child’s functioning

10. Multiple skills, multiple challenges
Use the implementation worksheet to discuss the process in small groups: COSF Implementation Issues worksheet
What challenges are you facing in implementing the COSF process?
What strategies might help address the challenges you discussed?
With the vast array of essential skills and required of providers throughout the process, it is not surprising that there are multiple challenges.
Limited staff development time
Learning age-expected child development
Working as a team
Including families
Shift toward thinking functionally

11. Discussion: Challenges and Strategies
Facilitate discussion and brainstorming strategies:
Collaboration Strategies:
Collaboration with other programs – preschool and infant-toddler
Input from child care, general education and preschool teachers
Select a tool that helps develop functional IFSP/IEP goals
Use of Early Learning Guidelines
Using assessment tools designed for developing functional IFSP and IEP goals to help the teams think more functionally’
Strategies: Training
Focus groups scheduled throughout the year for teachers and providers
Training materials that include video
Individual assistance as needed
COSF training integral part of staff development
Training modules available on line
Strategies: Information sharing
Phone conferences
Scheduling meetings to coincide with IFSP/IEP team meetings
Shared folder on program site that is password protected
Topical monthly teleconferences for training and feedback
Practice, practice, practice with the 7-point scale and documentation!
Other strategies
Shift training and practice to incorporate functional assessments and writing functional IFSP/IEP goals
Establishing core competencies
Incorporating staff feedback into plans for staff development

12. Follow up: Implementation issues for your program
Training materials are available on the ECO website: COSF Training materials and Activities State-Developed Training Materials us at: Visit us online at:
What are the implementation issues related to the child outcomes summary process that your team is facing? During your next staff development opportunity, you may wish to discuss these issues, as well as strategies for ensuring an effective outcomes summary process. The discussion guide at this link provides an outline for discussion of these issues. Additional resources are also available on the ECO website