Family Outcome Principles and Measurement Approaches Melissa Raspa Don Bailey ECO at RTI International International Society on Early Intervention (ISEI) New York City, May 2011

Goals for Today 2 What are family outcomes of early intervention? How are family outcomes measured? What practices lead to improved family outcomes? Early Childhood Outcomes Center

What is a Family Outcome? A benefit experienced by families as a result of services and supports received –An outcome is not the receipt of services or satisfaction with services –An outcome is what happens as a result of services provided to families 3Early Childhood Outcomes Center

Determining Family Outcomes Extensive stakeholder input –ECO Advisory Board –Family members –Researchers Iterative process –Posted online for comments Final set of outcomes recommended to OSEP 4 Early Childhood Outcomes Center

Five Family Outcomes ECO Understand their child’s strengths, abilities, and special needs Know their rights and advocate effectively for their children Help their children develop and learn Have support systems Access desired services, programs, activities in their community Early Childhood Outcomes Center5

ECO Outcomes vs. OSEP Indicators ECO Understand their child’s strengths, abilities, and special needs Know their rights and advocate effectively for their children Help their children develop and learn Have support systems Access desired services, programs, activities in their community OSEP Percent of families participating in Part C who report that EI services have helped the family –Know their rights –Effectively communicate their children’s needs –Help their children develop and learn Early Childhood Outcomes Center6

Measuring Family Outcomes Original Family Outcomes Survey –Three items for each of the five proposed family outcomes –Each item rated on a scale from 1-7 –Descriptive statements for ratings of 1, 3, 5, 7 –Blanks left for “in between” ratings of 2, 4, 6 –Three additional items for states to use in responding to APR requirements (two versions, one for Part C, one for Part B 7 Early Childhood Outcomes Center

UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHILD'S STRENGTHS, ABILITIES, AND SPECIAL NEEDS 1. Your child is growing and learning. How much does your family understand about your child’s development? We are just beginning to understand our child's development We understand some about our child's development We understand a good amount about our child's development We understand a great deal about our child's development 2. Some children have special health needs, a disability, or are delayed in their development. These are often referred to as “special needs.” How familiar is your family with your child's special needs? We are just beginning to understand our child’s special needs We understand some about our child’s special needs We understand a good amount about our child’s special needs We understand a great deal about our child’s special needs 3. Professionals who work with you and your child want to know if the things they do are working. How often is your family able to tell if your child is making progress? We seldom can tell if our child is making progress We sometimes can tell if our child is making progress We usually can tell if our child is making progress We almost always can tell if our child is making progress

Measuring Family Outcomes Feedback from states on format of original scale –7 point scale was not always family-friendly –Multiple pages made it appear long and complicated Request for additional items –Other concepts related to outcomes not previously measured –More info for program planning and improvement –Reporting to OSEP on helpfulness indicators 9Early Childhood Outcomes Center

10 Family-Centered Principles Referral and intake Determining eligibility Child assessment Family assessment Team meetings and decision-making Service provision and coordination Parenting practices Community support Understand child’s abilities and special needs Know rights and advocate effectively Help child develop and learn Have support systems Access the community Family-Centered Principles Program ActivitiesFamily Outcomes Shared philosophy Families as partners Focus on strengths Family choice of goals and services Collaboration and coordination of service Effective communication Flexibility Community-based

Family Outcomes Survey – Revised (FOS-R) Outcome items –24 family outcome items –Organized by 5 outcomes –4 to 6 items per outcome Helpfulness Indicator items –17 indicator items –Organized by 3 OSEP indicators –5 or 6 items per indicator 11 Early Childhood Outcomes Center

Response Options Outcome Items – “Which response best describes your family right now” –Not at all –A little –Somewhat –Almost –Completely Indicator Items – “How helpful has early intervention been in” –Not at all helpful –A little helpful –Somewhat helpful –Very helpful –Extremely helpful 12 Early Childhood Outcomes Center

13

Linking Practices with Outcomes What do we do with families that leads to positive outcomes? –What is our program philosophy about working with parents? –How do we involve families in assessments? –Are families involved in the decision-making process? 14 Early Childhood Outcomes Center

Referral and Intake Family Centered Practice We know our rights related to our child’s special needs Early Childhood Outcomes Center Providing information and explaining your rights in ways that are easy for you to understand Family Outcome

Child and Family Assessment Family Centered Practice We are able to work on our child’s goals during everyday routines Early Childhood Outcomes Center Family Outcome Sharing ideas on how to include your child in daily activities

Service Provision and Coordination Family Centered Practice We are able to find and use the services and programs available to us Early Childhood Outcomes Center Family Outcome Connecting you with other services or people who can help your child and family

For More Information Web site – Publications and measures –Available on the web site 18 Early Childhood Outcomes Center