Typical and Ideal Practices in Early Intervention in Spain During a Transformation Process of Professional Practices

Abstract

Early intervention (EI) has evolved toward a family-centered approach over the past decades. Despite emphasis on this philosophy, however, the field still needs to move from a child- and deficit-based approach to a family-centered one. This study aimed to be a baseline description of professional practices of 250 EI professionals in Spain during a change to family-centered practices by the Spanish Confederation of organizations for people with intellectual disabilities, Plena Inclusión. We conducted variance analysis on the Families in Natural Environments Scale of Service Evaluation–II (FINESSE-II), and found ideal-practices scores to be higher than typical practice in all factors of the scale. Location of the intervention and city size had an impact on the total FINESSE-II score, whereas professional demographic variables did not. Ideal practices of family-centered professionals were higher than those of non-family-centered professionals in the total score and in all factors, especially in the Functional Intervention factor.