1. Coaching in Early Intervention Provider Onboarding Series 3
Brenda Amos-Moss
And
Donna DeSanto

3. At the end of this series you will understand coaching approach to service delivery & how to conduct home visits
Definitions of coaching
Purpose of coaching
Benefits of coaching
Basic principles of coaching
Role of the primary provider
Home visiting strategies

4. Definition Coaching is: An evidence based adult learning strategy.
Used with parents/caregivers/providers.
Used to recognize what they are already doing that works to support their child’s learning and development.
Used to help build upon existing and new ideas.

5. Purpose To improve existing knowledge and practices.
To develop new skills.
To promote learning.
To apply new skills and feedback.
To problem solve challenging situations.
To develop alternatives to improve skills.
To increase parents/caregivers awareness of how current behaviors and affect situations.

6. Ultimate Goal Coach= Primary Provider
The ultimate goal of the Primary Provider is to enhance the parent’s/caregivers feelings of competence and confidence allowing them to engage in self-reflection and generalization of the new skills and strategies to other challenging situations.

7. Benefits
Effective coaching can set the stage for lifetime learning on the part of the parent/caregiver.
Strategies can be applied all of the time, not just during a “session”.
Innovative ideas can become useful strategies.
Challenging situations may become enjoyable experiences.

8. Basics
Learning occurs between visits during daily routines and activities.
Materials used to support successful participation should be readily available to families.
Familiar toys should be used to allow for generalization of skills. Bringing toys limits possibilities.
You want the parent to know what you know.

9. Primary Provider Must leave your title at the door.
Becomes both teacher and learner with your peers through mentoring, coaching and collaborating.
Must be non-judgmental and positive.
Must show empathy and compassion.
Must be an active listener.

10. Role in Early Steps
Must support the parent/caregiver in ways related to their child’s outcomes on the IFSP
Support includes:
Helping them to become aware of their own knowledge and skills.
Developing plans to improve their skills as necessary.
Helping the parent to perform self evaluation of their own skills.

11. Role in Early Steps
Have the belief that all families are capable and competent.
Identify family's priorities for their child's development.
Determine level of competence.
Share new ideas and strategies.
Use interactive style of coaching to build rapport.
Provide feedback.

12. Role in Early Steps
The Primary Provider must acknowledge and understand another’s perspective especially when it differs from theirs. CHOOSE RELATIONSHIPS OVER CONTROL.
“The Primary Provider must develop a relationship with the family paying attention to “leveling the playing field” supporting parents/caregivers and recognizing what they have to offer and contribute to partnership.”- Robin McWilliam

14. Principles Family centered services:
Create opportunities for informal dialogue.
Acknowledge family strengths and competencies.
Solicit parents/caregivers opinions and ideas.
Seek understanding.
Demonstrate caring for entire family.
Acknowledge and respond to feelings and emotions of the family.

15. Tips for Home Visiting
Begin each home visit by reviewing joint plan from previous week.
Prioritize how to spend time and jointly determine constraints.
Use open ended questions such as: “Tell me how the strategy that we discussed last week worked for you” rather than “Did the strategy we discussed last week work.”
Use closed ended questions when you ask a question or to avoid making an assumption. For example: “Would you be more comfortable if I show you how to do that?” OR “would you be more comfortable having me watch you feed your child?”

16. Tips
Be comfortable asking reflective questions, such as “if I was not here at this time what would you and your child be doing? How about we pretend that I am not here and I watch and then we can discuss some strategies to use.”
Learn how to read non-verbal cues
Give the family time to think. Don’t worry about periods of silence.
Model a strategy while explaining what you are doing.

17. Tips Observe the family practicing given strategy.
Give positive and affirmative feedback, such as “that’s a great idea” or “what I am hearing you say is”.
Share information.
Jointly develop a plan for the next visit.
Review all actions observed during home visit.
Have family summarize plan for next home visit.

19. Quick reference guide to coaching
Observe family within context of everyday routines.
Have family observe you modeling a strategy with an understanding of what they are watching.
Support the family in practicing, refining, and analyzing new skill.
Reflect on the new skill and have family determine what worked or didn’t work and why.
Give non-judgmental feedback.
Joint planning- strategies for the week; schedule for sessions; plan for next session.

20. Coaching in Early Intervention Quiz
Provider Onboarding Series 3
By: Brenda Amos-Moss
and
Donna DeSanto

21. Please check the most appropriate answer.
1.Coaching Is:
A) evidenced based
B) used with parents, caretakers and other providers
C) recognized what is already working
D) build’s upon existing and new ideas
E) all of the above
2.The goal of the primary provider is:
A) provide a home program for the parent/caretaker to follow
B) Have the parent/caretaker practice given suggestions daily
C) enhance parent/caretakers’ feelings of competence
D) all of the above

22. Continued A) learning occurs only during home visitation
3. Fundamental Basic Belief of Coaching Is:
A) learning occurs only during home visitation
B) Primary provider must be prepared for each home visit by bringing their own developmentally appropriate toys'
C) materials used should be readily available to families
D) none of the above
4. Primary Provider must:
A) leave their title at the door
B) show empathy and compassion
C) be non-judgmental
D) be an active listener
E) all of the above

23. Continued: 5. Role of the primary provider is:
A) share new ideas and strategies with the parent/caretaker
B) provide feedback
C) identify family’s priorities for their child’s development
D) help the parent/caregiver become aware of their knowledge
and skills
E) all of the above

24. Continued
6. Principles for a family centered services are: A) acknowledge the family’s area(s) of need and begin working on improving this area. B) never respond to the emotions and feelings the family shares C) share only your opinions and ideas the family D) have an informal dialogue with the family E) all of the above

25. Continued 7. Tips for home visiting:
A) begin each home visit by reviewing what happened during your last home visit.
B) never use open-ended question because the parent/caretaker will not know how to respond.
C) be concerned when there are periods of silence during your conversations with the family
D) never touch the child
E) jointly develop plans for the next home visit and have the family summarized the plan
F) both A and B are correct
G) both E and A are correct
H) both B and D are correct

26. You have now completed Series 3
You are ready to move onto the final series Team Meetings in Early Intervention Series 4