1. KEY ASPECTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION STEFANIJA ALIŠAUSKIENĖ 2009Budapest

2. Short introduction into Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Short introduction into Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Recommendations of ECI European Agency project Recommendations of ECI European Agency project

3. Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) relates to the right of very young children and their families to receive the support they might need – usually it is a multi-professional support (medical, educational, psychological, social) for young children (0 -3) at risk / with developmental disorders and their families. ECI aims to support and empower the child, the family and the services involved.

4. European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education in 2003 – 2005 carried out the project “Early Childhood Intervention” 22 experts from 19 European countries took part in a project. Five main aspects have been analysed in a project process: ▪ Availability (ECI reaches all children and families in need) ▪ Availability (ECI reaches all children and families in need) ▪ Proximity (near to a place and near to a person) ▪ Proximity (near to a place and near to a person) ▪ Affordability (cost free services/provision) ▪ Affordability (cost free services/provision) ▪ Interdisciplinary working (involves professionals from various disciplines) ▪ Interdisciplinary working (involves professionals from various disciplines) ▪ Diversity (health, education, social sectors share responsibilities) ▪ Diversity (health, education, social sectors share responsibilities)

5. The European / international documents published in the last 20-30 years, highlighted the progression of change from intervention mainly focused on the child to a broader approach, where the focus was placed on the child in a family and the community contexts. The new concept of early childhood intervention (ECI) has been developed, in which health, education and social sciences, particularly psychology, were directly involved.

6. The ecological-systemic approach provides a systemic way of analysing, understanding and supporting the young child and his/her family. Family members/ parents are the partners in the process of intervention.

7. ECI covers any action undertaken when a child needs special support in order to: ensure and enhance her/his personal development ensure and enhance her/his personal development strengthen the family’s own competences strengthen the family’s own competences promote the social inclusion of the family and the child promote the social inclusion of the family and the child These actions are to be provided in the child’s natural setting, preferably at a local level, with family- oriented and multi-dimensional teamwork approach.

8. Recommendations Availability (1) ECI needs to reach all children and families in need as early as possible.

9. Recommendations Availability (2) Availability of information Clear and precise information about ECI services should be offered at local, regional and national levels to families and professionals from all services using precise and accessible language.

10. Recommendations Availability (3) Clear definition of target groups ECI centres and professionals should focus on the defined target groups, according to priorities established at local, regional and national levels.

11. Recommendations Proximity (1) Decentralisation of services ECI services and provision should be located as close as possible to the families in order to: Facilitate better knowledge of the conditions of the families’ social environment Facilitate better knowledge of the conditions of the families’ social environment Ensure the same quality of service despite differences in location (rural areas, villages etc.) Ensure the same quality of service despite differences in location (rural areas, villages etc.) Avoid overlaps, irrelevant or misleading pathways Avoid overlaps, irrelevant or misleading pathways

12. Recommendations Proximity (2) Meeting the needs of families and children ECI needs to protect the rights of a child and a family ECI needs to protect the rights of a child and a family Families have the right to be informed and to decide together with professionals on the next steps Families have the right to be informed and to decide together with professionals on the next steps The development of a written document (Individual Plan) needs to be prepared by professionals together with families. The development of a written document (Individual Plan) needs to be prepared by professionals together with families. Families should receive training upon request, which would help them to obtain the required skills and knowledge. Families should receive training upon request, which would help them to obtain the required skills and knowledge.

13. Recommendations Affordability In order to ensure that ECI services reach all families and young children in need, it is necessary that cost free services are made available for the families.

14. Recommendations Interdisciplinary working ECS involves professionals from various disciplines and different backgrounds. In order to ensure quality teamwork, are suggested: Co-operation with families as the main partners of the professionals : Professionals have to initiate co-operation and have the respectful attitude towards the family - to understand their needs without imposing their point of view Professionals have to initiate co-operation and have the respectful attitude towards the family - to understand their needs without imposing their point of view Professionals should organise meetings - to discuss different issues with parents; together set up an agreed document (Individual Plan). Professionals should organise meetings - to discuss different issues with parents; together set up an agreed document (Individual Plan). Team building approach – share principles, objectives, working strategies.

15. Recommendations Diversity In order to ensure that health, education and social sectors involved in ECI services share responsibilities, the adequate coordination of sectors is suggested: All sectors should be involved in early detection in order to avoid gaps /delays that might affect further development of the child/family/intervention. All sectors should be involved in early detection in order to avoid gaps /delays that might affect further development of the child/family/intervention. Developmental screening needs to be well known and systemically implemented. Developmental screening needs to be well known and systemically implemented. Services should ensure continuity of the required support when children are moving from one provisions to another. Services should ensure continuity of the required support when children are moving from one provisions to another.

16. Thank You ! Time for reflections