The resources here support family services providers, home visitors, and Head Start staff who partner with other professionals to support the learning and development of children with disabilities and their families’ well-being. They highlight the importance of including families in that partnering process. Professional coordination that involves the families is essential across all aspects of the Head Start program, including recruitment, screening and referral, service planning and delivery, and transitions.
Families as Team Members in the Coordinated Approach to Disabilities Services
This webinar explains how and why family engagement is an essential part of a coordinated approach to disabilities services. Explore practices, strategies, and resources to support you in working collaboratively with families of children with disabilities.
Collaboration with Families and Other Partners: Essential Features of High-quality Inclusion
Watch this webinar to find out how Head Start programs can build partnerships that include families and other professionals to strengthen inclusive learning environments. Explore laws and policies, resources, and strategies that support the inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood settings. Learn why partnering with families and other professionals is so vital to effective inclusion.
Effective Strategies for Supporting Families with Children with Special Needs in Early Head Start-Child Care (EHS-CC) Partnerships
Review two approaches that professionals can use to engage and support the families of children who are eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for services in the EHS-CC Partnership program. Each approach is presented through a scenario that illustrates effective strategies for partnering to provide individualized supports for young children with disabilities and their families.
Family Recruitment Video and Implementation Guide
The Head Start Cares About Your Whole Family video explores the history of inclusion in Head Start program recruitment. Discover the opportunities that programs have and the common challenges they face when enrolling children with disabilities, and the importance of coordinating with families and professionals in the inclusion process. Learn about family-centered solutions that programs have used to make sure children with disabilities and developmental delays can fully participate in program activities.
Recruiting and Enrolling Children
Explore the process of recruiting and enrolling children with disabilities or suspected delays in Head Start programs. Learn about the relevant regulations in the Head Start Program Performance Standards as well as strategies for putting those regulations into practice. This resource supports a coordinated approach to recruitment and enrollment.
Services for Infants with Significant Disabilities in Early Head Start Programs
This resource provides basic information about enrolling infants with significant disabilities in Early Head Start (EHS) programs. Learn how early childhood professionals coordinate with other service providers to support young children and their families. Find out what screenings and supports are available through EHS programs and who is qualified to receive services.
ECTA Practice Improvement Tools: Teaming and Collaboration
Encourage positive interactions between early childhood education providers and families using these tools from the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA). The checklists, video illustrations, and guides support practices recommended by the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children.
Communication for Collaboration
This CONNECT learning module provides guidance to early childhood staff working with children with disabilities on how to communicate effectively with other professionals and with families. Learn about a decision-making process for customizing communication practices for specific audiences and purposes.
Engaging Families and Creating Trusting Partnerships to Improve Child and Family Outcomes
This webinar series supports early childhood program leaders to strengthen inclusive settings and build the capacity of staff and families to develop trusting partnerships. Explore a systems approach to enacting the principles of the IDEA and the DEC Recommended Practices on family engagement.
ABCs of IEP
Watch this video clip for an introduction to the Individualized Education Program (IEP) in Head Start programs. Learn what the IEP process involves and how it can inform inclusive settings. Find out how it provides a road map to effective support for children with disabilities using a coordinated approach.
Disabilities Services Coordinator Foundations: Recruitment, Enrollment, and Screening
This training session includes information on recruiting, enrolling, and screening children with disabilities. Log into the Individualized Professional Development (iPD) Portfolio to complete this course and earn continuing education units (CEUs). Receive 0.1 CEUs or one contact hour.
Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA) Worksheet and Action Plan
Use this worksheet and action plan to reflect on how your Head Start program serves children with disabilities and their families.
Roundtable Introductions at the Meeting
Watch this short video to see how attendees at a typical IEP meeting introduce themselves. Reflect on and learn about the role of each attendee at the meeting.
Informal Wrap Up
This video clip features a family support specialist closing an IEP meeting and giving parents the opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions. Consider how the family support specialist works with the family in the IFSP and IEP processes to strengthen the team and ensure the comfort and confidence of the family.
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Last Updated: May 3, 2024