This paper highlights several current collaborative activities of the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC). There are many specific examples of TA (Technical Assistance) collaborations that take place on a regular basis; the seven examples presented here were selected to represent different types of collaboration. The…

The document provides summaries of 53 programs from around the country demonstrating innovative approaches to identifying needs and developing and delivering services and materials to families. Chapters are organized according to broad themes which underlie their programs' design. Chapter 1 (10 programs) examines programs which explore informal…

Surveys reactions and preferences related to a support program for siblings (N=40) of children with disabilities. Results identified the benefits participants received from the program and the different components participants preferred, such as favored recreational activities. Suggests the clinical utility of the program for school personnel…

Infants who are born prematurely may experience developmental delays and impairments during infancy and beyond. Those who are born at extremely low birthweight face the greatest challenges. Many families could benefit from early intervention services through their local Part C of Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs, but…

This document focuses on state requirements for the various professional roles for Part C services and collaborative efforts to ensure high quality personnel are available to provide Part C services. States have established requirements to ensure a high quality workforce for children and families receiving Part C services. These requirements vary…

The final report describes the development of a program to train neighborhood mothers as home visitors to families with a handicapped child under age 3. The following program aspects are detailed (sample subtopics in parentheses): population (referral sources, family and child characteristics); staff (changes in staffing pattern, hiring core…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of Project Adobe, the New Mexico Parent Training and Information Center, which provides information, support, education and training to families with school-aged children with disabilities in their local communities. Achievements include: (1) completion and printing of a booklet on the…

Offering a discussion for administrators and practitioners serving disabled and at-risk infants, toddlers, and their families, these three addresses explore issues, strategies, and models of program evaluation. "Major Issues in Program Evaluation," by Kathryn Barnard, discusses the purpose of, process of, and ways of doing program…

Four Native American tribes have successfully integrated services for children into their child care programs. Two tribes operate child care and Head Start-preschool programs in the same facility. Another tribe runs a child care program with extensive outreach and assistance for families with special needs children. The fourth has a child care…

This article describes early intervention services provided to families with infants and young children with disabilities in Sweden. The "habilitation model" is based on medical, educational, psychological, and social perspectives placed in a family context. Government legislation stresses intervention focused on the handicapping…

Describes a home-based intervention program that provided time-intensive, supervised, paraprofessional services to a family in which parents and infant had serious disabilities. Programmatic needs and delivery of services to disabled parents and families are discussed. (NH)

Examines the issues addressed at two of three Child Care Institutes sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), as well as the responsibilities of ACF in relation to the provision of child care. Specific programs administered by ACF are discussed, as are future trends in federal support for child care and early childhood…

Examines the importance of including families in the education of young handicapped children and discusses trends in the foci of family involvement programs of recent years. Describes the family involvement component of the Precise Early Education of Children with Handicaps (PEECH) outreach project. (Author)

This paper is a description and an evaluation of the Families First program in Sydney, Australia. The Families First program was set up to provide innovative family-centered early intervention services to families with young children with disabilities from birth to school age living within the South-Western Metropolitan Health Region. The program…

This monograph provides a framework for programs, states, and organizations to think about the issues in developing culturally competent programs for families of children with special needs, and offers a variety of examples from programs across the country that are providing exemplary services. The monograph is designed to help program makers…