EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION IN PORTUGAL: FAMILY-CENTRED PRACTICES AND THE TRANSDISCIPLINARY MODEL IN LOCAL EARLY INTERVENTION TEAMS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21814/childstudies.7243Keywords:
Early intervention, family‑centred practices, transdisciplinary model, professionals' perspectivesAbstract
This study examines how professionals from Local Early Intervention Teams (ELI) in Northern Portugal perceive and implement recommended practices in Early Childhood Intervention (ECI), particularly family‑centred practices and the transdisciplinary team model. Using a mixed‑methods design, 56 professionals completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and two versions of the Family‑Focused Intervention Scale (Pimentel, 2003), and 10 professionals participated in three focus groups. Quantitative results indicated a higher frequency and perceived importance of child‑centred practices than of family‑centred practices. Qualitative analysis showed that although professionals conceptually value family‑centred and transdisciplinary approaches, they identify contextual, organisational, and cultural barriers to their full implementation. The findings highlight gaps between recognised best practices and their operationalisation and provide recommendations to strengthen ECI within the National System for Early Childhood Intervention (SNIPI).
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