The authors report the results of a study of the relationship between the level of parent involvement on early childhood intervention teams and social worker membership on the team. Results of the study, based on a sample of 55 early intervention team members, supported the hypothesis that the presence of a social worker as a regular member of the early intervention team is associated with a higher level of parent involvement. Strategies to facilitate an active role for parents on multidisciplinary early intervention teams are presented.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BaileyD. (1984). A triaxial model of the interdisciplinary team and group process. Exceptional Children, 51, 17–25.
2.
BaileyD. (1987). Collaborative goal setting with families: Resolving differences in values and priorities for services. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 7(2), 59–71.
3.
BechterH. (1987). Effective group membership. Social Work with Groups, 10(2), 57–67.
4.
BishopK. (1987). The new law and the role of social workers. Early Childhood, 3(2), 6–7.
5.
BlochJ., & SeitzM. (1989). Parents as assessors of children: A collaborative approach to helping. Social Work in Education, 11, 226–243.
6.
BrillN. (1976). Teamwork.Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott.
7.
BrinckerhoffJ., & VincentL. (1986). Increasing parental decision-making at the individualized educational program meeting. Journal of the Division for Early Childhood, 11, 46–58.
8.
CairesK. B., & WeilM. (1985). Developmentally disabled persons and their families. In WeilM., & KarlsJ. M. (Eds.), Case management in human service practice (pp. 233–275). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
9.
CastoG., & LewisA. (1984). Parent involvement in infant and preschool programs. Journal of the Division for Early Childhood, 9, 49–56.
10.
ChawkinN. (1989). Linking schools and parents. Social Work in Education, 11, 149–170.
11.
CourtnageL., & Smith-DavisJ. (1987). Interdisciplinary team training: A national survey of special education teacher training programs. Exceptional Children, 53, 451–458.
12.
DayP. (1985). Methods for enhancing efficiency of interdisciplanary team decision making.Washington DC: Gallaudet College, Kendall Demonstration Elementary School (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 266 621).
HareI. (1988). School social work and effective schools. Urban Education, 22, 413–428.
19.
HartmanA., & LairdJ. (1983). Family-centered social work practice.New York: Columbia University Press.
20.
LoweJ., & HerranenM. (1981). Understanding teamwork: Another look at concepts. Social Work in Health Care, 7(2), 1–11.
21.
Martinez-BrawleyE., & BlundallJ. (1989). Farm families' preferences toward the personal social services. Social Work, 34, 513–522.
22.
McGonigelM., & GarlandC. (1988). The individualized family service plan and the early intervention team: Team and family issues and recommended practices. Infants and Young Children, 1(1), 10–21.
23.
NashJ. (1990a). Parent involvement on early childhood intervention teams: Implications for social work practice. Unpublished master's thesis, School of Social Work, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
24.
NashJ. (1990b). Public Law 99–457: Facilitating family involvement on the multidisciplinary team. Journal of Early Intervention, 14, 318–326.
25.
NoverA., & TimberlakeE. (1989). Meeting the challenge: The educational preparation of social workers for practice with at-risk children (0–3) and their families. Infants and Young Children, 2(1), 59–65.
26.
RadinN. (1990). A new arena for school social work practice: At-risk infants and toddlers. Social Work in Education, 12, 275–282.
27.
SheltonT.JeppsonE., & JohnsonB. (1987). Family-centered care for children with special health care needs.Washington, DC: Association for the Care of Children's Health.
28.
ShonkoffJ.Hauser-CramP.KrausM., & UpshurC. (1988). Early intervention efficacy research: What have we learned and where do we go from here?Topics in Early Childhood Education, 8(1), 81–93.
29.
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, Inc. (1983). SPSS-X: User's guide.New York: McGraw-Hill.
30.
TropmanJ. (1987). Effective meetings: Some provisional rules and needed research. Social Work with Groups, 10(2), 41–55.
31.
TurnbullA., & TumbullH. (1986). Families, professionals, and exceptionality: A special partnership.Columbus, OH: Merrill.
32.
TurnbullA., & WintonP. (1984). Parent involvement policy and practice: Current research and implications for families of young, severely handicapped children. In BlacherJ. (Ed.), Severely handicapped children and their families (pp. 377–397). Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
33.
WintonP., & BaileyD. (in press). Communicating with families: Examining practices and facilitating change. In PaulJ., & SimeonssonR. (Eds.), Working with families and children with special needs.New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.