Early Childhood Intervention: The Perspective of Families

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21814/childstudies.5659

Keywords:

early childhood intervention, family-centred practices, family participation

Abstract

The study explores how families in North Portugal perceive professional practices of Local Early Intervention Teams (LIT) within the Portuguese Nacional System of Early Childhood Intervention (Sistema Nacional de Intervenção Precoce na Infância - SNIPI), fourteen years after the publication of Decree-Law 281/2009.

Thirty-five families with children aged 0-6, receiving LIT intervention for at least two years, participated. The research employed a qualitative approach, involving semi-structured interviews. Data analysis utilized content analysis to categorize responses.

Overall, the findings indicate that many families expressed satisfaction with LIT assistance but noted areas lacking a family-centered approach. Families also highlighted challenges and suggestions for improvement. The study offers insights for enhancing Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) services under SNIPI, by incorporating direct family perspectives.

Author Biographies

Vânia Oliveira, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences University of Porto

She was recently graduated in Educational Psychology and Human Development, from the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Porto. Completed her academic internship in a Local Early Intervention Team, in the city of Porto, Portugal. Her master's thesis was also developed within the scope of Early Childhood Intervention. Currently, is undertaking her junior professional year at CASA – Center for Psychology, Education and Development, in Porto.

Catarina Grande, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences University of Porto

Has a Ph.D. in Psychology and is an assistant professor of Psychology in pre- and post-graduate studies at FPCEUP and an integrated member of the Center of Psychology of the University of Porto. Her areas of scientific activity are Educational and Developmental Psychology, Early Childhood Intervention, and recently Pediatric Psychology. Her main research interest is preschool children with typical and atypical development and she participated in different research projects on early childhood education, and early childhood intervention.

References

Aldridge, J., Kilgo, J. L., Bruton, A. K. (2015). Transforming Transdisciplinary Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education through Intercultural Education. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education, 7(2), 343-360. https://10.20489/intjecse.72339 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20489/intjecse.72339

Almeida, I. C. (2011). A intervenção centrada na família e na comunidade: O hiato entre as evidências e as práticas. Análise Psicológica, 1(29), 5-25. https://doi.org/10.14417/ap.36 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14417/ap.36

Almeida, I. C., Carvalho, L., Ferreira, V., Grande, C., Lopes, S., Pinto, A. I., Portugal, G., Santos, P., & Serrano, A. M. (2011). Práticas de intervenção precoce baseadas nas rotinas: Um projeto de formação e investigação. Análise Psicológica, 29(1), 83-98. https://doi.org/10.14417/ap.41 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14417/ap.41

Bairrão, J., & Almeida, I. (2003). Questões actuais em intervenção precoce. PSICOLOGIA, 17(1), 15-29. https://doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v17i1.436 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v17i1.436

Bardin, L. (2009). Análise de conteúdo. Edições 70: Persona.

Bauer, M. W., & Gaskell, G. (2017). Pesquisa Qualitativa com Texto, Imagem e Som: Um Manual Prático. Editora Vozes Limitada.

Bronfenbrenner, U., & Morris, P. A. (1998). The ecology of developmental processes. In W. Damon & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology (5th ed., pp. 993-1028). John Wileys.

Bronfenbrenner, U., & Morris, P. A. (2007). The ecology of developmental processes. In W. Damon & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology (6th ed., pp. 793-828). John Wileys.

Bruder, M. B. (2000). Family-centered early intervention: Clarifying our values for the new millennium. Topics in early childhood special education, 20(2), 105-115. https://doi.org/10.1177/027112140002000206 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/027112140002000206

Carvalho, J. (2015). Estudo das ELI dos Distritos de Braga e Bragança: Um Contributo para a Avaliação das Práticas Centradas na Família [Tese de mestrado, Universidade do Minho]. Repositório da Universidade do Minho. https://hdl.handle.net/1822/41397

Carvalho, L., Almeida, I., Felgueiras, I., Leitão, S., Boavida, J., Santos, P., Serrano, A., Brito, A., Lança, C., Pimentel, J., Pinto, A., Grande, C., Brandão, T., & Franco, V. (2018). Práticas Recomendadas em Intervenção Precoce na Infância: Um Guia para Profissionais. ANIP.

Correia, L. M., & Serrano, A.M. (2000). Intervenção Precoce Centrada na Família: Uma Perspetiva Ecológica de Atendimento. In L. M. Correia & A. M. Serrano (Eds.), Envolvimento Parental em Intervenção Precoce, das Práticas Centradas na Criança às Práticas Centradas na Família (pp.11-32). Porto Editora.

Costa, C. (2017). Práticas centradas na família e os resultados familiares: Avaliação de práticas de intervenção precoce na perspetiva da família [Tese de mestrado, Universidade do Minho]. Repositório da Universidade do Minho. https://hdl.handle.net/1822/46251 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17979/reipe.2017.0.11.3015

Couto, D. (2014). Práticas das Equipas Locais de Intervenção no processo de avaliação de crianças referenciadas para o Sistema Nacional de Intervenção Precoce na Infância [Tese de mestrado, Universidade do Minho]. Repositório da Universidade do Minho. https://hdl.handle.net/1822/30213

Decreto-Lei n.° 281/09 da Assembleia da República (2009). Diário da República, I série, n.° 193. https://dre.pt/dre/detalhe/decreto-lei/281-2009-491397

Division for Early Childhood. (2014). DEC recommended practices in early intervention/early childhood special education. Recuperado de http://www.dec-sped.org/recommendedpractices

Dunst, C. J. (2000). Revisiting “Rethinking early intervention”. Topics in early childhood special education, 20(2), 95-104. https://doi.org/10.1177/027112140002000205 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/027112140002000205

Dunst, C. J. (2011, 7-8 de junho). Family-Centered Practices, Parent Engagement, and Parent and Family Functioning [Paper presentation]. Head Start Advisory Committee Meeting of Parent, Family, and Community Engagement, Washington, DC, United States.

Dunst, C. J. (2017). Family systems early childhood intevention. In H. Sukkar, C. J. Dunst, & J. Kirkby (Eds.), Early Childhood Intervention: Working with families of young children with special needs (pp. 36–58). Routledge.

Dunst, C. J., Boyd, K., Trivette, C. M., & Hamby, D. W. (2002) Family-oriented program models and professional helpgiving practices. Family Relations: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies, 51(3), 221–229. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2002.00221.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2002.00221.x

Dunst, C. J., & Bruder, M. B. (2002). Valued outcomes of service coordination, early Intervention and natural environments. Exceptional Children, 68(3), 361-375. https://doi.org/10.1177/001440290206800305 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/001440290206800305

Dunst, C. J., Bruder, M. B., & Espe-Sherwindt, M. (2014). Family capacity-building in early childhood intervention: do context and setting matter? School Community Journal, 24(1), 37–48.

Dunst, C. J., & Espe-Sherwindt, M. (2016). Family-Centered Practices in Early Childhood Intervention. In B. Reichow, B. Boyd, E. Barton, S. Odom (Eds.), Handbook of Early Childhood Special Education (pp. 37-55). Springer International Publishing Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28492-7_3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28492-7_3

Dunst, C. J., Raab, M., Trivette, C. M., & Swanson, J. (2010). Community-based everyday child learning opportunities. In R. A. McWilliam (Ed.), Working with families of young children with special needs (pp. 60-92). Guilford Press.

Dunst, C. J., Trivette, C. M., & Hamby, D. W. (2007). Meta-analysis of family-centered helpgiving practices research. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 13(4), 370–378. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrdd.20176 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/mrdd.20176

Elo, S., & Kyngäs, H. (2008). The qualitative content analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 62(1), 107-105. https://10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.x

Espe-Sherwindt, M. (2008). Family-centred practice: Collaboration, competency and evidence. Support for Learning, 23(3), 1 36–143. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9604.2008.00384.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9604.2008.00384.x

European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education. (2005). Intervenção precoce na infância: Progressos e desenvolvimentos. https://www.european-agency.org/

Ferreira, D. (2014). Práticas Centradas na Família: Um estudo de caso do Centro de Educación Infantil y Temprana da Universidade Católica Portuguesa [Tese de mestrado, Universidade do Minho]. Repositório da Universidade do Minho. https://hdl.handle.net/1822/38396

Guralnick, M. J. (2005). An overview of the developmental systems model for early intervention. In M. J. Guralnick (Ed.), The developmental systems approach to early intervention (pp. 3-28). Brookes.

Leite, C. (2018). Benefícios da intervenção precoce: Perspetiva de famílias portuguesas [Tese de doutoramento, Universidade do Minho]. Repositório da Universidade do Minho. https://hdl.handle.net/1822/56328

Mas, J. M., Dunst, C. J., Balcells-Balcells, A., Garcia-Ventura, S., Giné, C., & Cañadas, M. (2019). Family-centered practices and the parental well-being of young children with disabilities and developmental delay. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 94, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2019.103495 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2019.103495

Mas, J. M., Dunst, C. J., Hamby, D. W., Balcells-Balcells, A., García-Ventura, S., Banqués, N., & Giné, C. (2022). Relationships between family-centred practices and parent involvement in early childhood intervention. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 37(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/08856257.2020.1823165 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08856257.2020.1823165

McMahon, S. A., & Winch, P. J. (2018). Systematic debriefing after qualitative encounters: an essential analysis step in applied qualitative research. BMJ Glob Health, 3(5), 1-6. https://10.1136/bmjgh-2018-000837 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2018-000837

Merchán, M. (2017). El estado actual de las práticas centradas en la familia en atención temprana desde la percepción y experiencia de las familias españolas [Tese de doutoramento, Universidade Católica de Valencia]. Repositório Institucional da Universidade Católica de Valencia. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12466/502

Moore, T. (2012, 9 de agosto). Rethinking early childhood intervention services: Implications for policy and practice [Conference session]. 10th Biennial National Conference of Early Childhood Intervention Australia, and 1st Asia-Pacific Early Childhood Intervention Conference, Perth, Western Australia. http://www.rch.org.au/uploadedfiles/main/content/ccch/profdev/ecia_national_conference_2012.pdf

Oliveira, S. (2015). Planos Individuais de Intervenção Precoce: Um estudo qualitativo acerca das perspetivas de profissionais [Tese de mestrado, Universidade do Minho]. Repositório da Universidade do Minho. https://hdl.handle.net/1822/41400

Pego, C. (2014). As Perceções das Famílias de Crianças com Necessidades Especiais sobre os Benefícios da Intervenção Precoce: Um Estudo Qualitativo com Famílias de Braga [Tese de mestrado, Universidade do Minho]. Repositório da Universidade do Minho. https://hdl.handle.net/1822/38415

Pimentel, J. (2005). Intervenção Focada na Família: desejo ou realidade. Secretariado Nacional para a Reabilitação e Integração das Pessoas com Deficiência.

Pinto, M. J. (2019). Participação das famílias no apoio prestado pelo Sistema Nacional de Intervenção Precoce na Infância. [Tese de doutoramento, Universidade do Minho]. Repositório da Universidade do Minho. https://hdl.handle.net/1822/65351

Pinto, A. I., Grande, C., Felgueiras, I., Almeida, I. C., Pimentel, J. S., & Novais, N. (2009). Intervenção e investigação em idades precoces: O legado de Joaquim Bairrão [Intervention and research in early ages: The legacy of Joaquim Bairrão]. Psicologia, XXIII(2), 21–42. https://10.17575/rpsicol.v23i2.325 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v23i2.325

Pinto, M. J., & Serrano, A. M. (2015). Avaliação da participação das famílias no apoio prestado pelas equipas de intervenção precoce. Revista de Estudios e Investigación em Psicología y Educación, (11), 050-053. https://doi.org/10.17979/reipe.2015.0.11.359 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17979/reipe.2015.0.11.359

Sameroff, A. J. (1983). Developmental systems: Contexts and evolution. In P. H. Mussen (Ed.), Handbook of child psychology (pp. 238-295). John Wiley and Sons.

Sameroff, A. J. (2009). The Transactional Model of Development: How Children and Contexts Shape Each Other. American Psychological Association. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/11877-000

Sameroff, A. J., & Fiese, B. H. (2000). Transaccional regulation: The development ecology of early intervention. In J. P. Shonkoff & J. Meisels (Eds.), Handbook of early childhood intervention (2nd ed., pp. 135-159). Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511529320.009

Sameroff, A. J., & Mackenzie, M. (2003). Research strategies for capturing transactional models of development: The limits of the possible. Development and Psychopathology, 15(3), 613-640. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579403000312 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579403000312

Vala, J. (2003). A Análise de Conteúdo. In A. S. Silva, J. M. Pinto (Eds.), Metodologia das Ciências Sociais (12th ed., pp. 101-128). Edições Afrontamento.

Downloads

Published

12-07-2024

How to Cite

Oliveira, V., & Grande, C. . (2024). Early Childhood Intervention: The Perspective of Families. Child Studies, 1(4), 33–48. https://doi.org/10.21814/childstudies.5659

Issue

Section

Articles