Family Involvement Key to Improved Outcomes for Young Children

According to the Twenty-Second Annual Report to Congress on Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, research has shown that improved outcomes for young children are most likely to occur when services center on parents or primary caregivers. Family-centered practices are those in which families are involved in all aspects of the decision-making, families' culture and values are respected, and families are provided with accurate and sufficient information to be able to make informed decisions.

A family-centered approach keeps the focus on the developmental needs of the child while including family concerns and needs in the decision-making process. Family-centered practices include establishing trust and rapport with families and helping families develop skills to best meet their child's needs.

Parents and other family members are recognized as the lynchpins of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C, the Infant and Toddler program. As such, States must include parents as an integral part of decision making and service provision, from assessments through development of the Individualized Family Services Program (IFSP) to transition activities before their child turns 3. The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) found that States used a variety of methods to ensure and enhance family participation in the provision of early intervention services for infants and toddlers. The report is on-line at www.ed.gov/about/reports/annual/osep/2000/index.html. It is also available for free from ED Pubs.

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