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Abstract

States have reported mixed results in their efforts to implement early intervention interagency coordinting councils as mandated by Public Law 99-457. The purposes of this paper are to (1) discuss why interagency coordination is important for the development of services for young children with handicaps and their families, (2) present a summary of the difficulties that early intervention interagency coordinating councils have been facing, and (3) suggest strategies that interagency coordinating councils can use to improve their functioning. Strategies are discussed that involve the council's membership, role definition, commitment to common goals, vision of the Early Intervention system, achievement of goals, and use of political strategies.

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Strategies for Successful Early Intervention Coordinating Councils

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