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Abstract

A stratified random sample of 34 Minnesota early intervention programs for handicapped children, ages birth to 5 years, was surveyed in order to examine local level programming for parents. It was found that home visits are extensively utilized for parent programming while the child is under age 3, but that alternative options for involvement education, and support are offered by much smaller proportions of the programs. Seventy-five percent of those programs that do offer alternative parent programming do so less than monthly and only 11% report participation rates of 50% or more. Factors influencing parent participation were examined. These and other aspects of local level parent programming differ from reports of model programs and demonstration projects. Because parent involvement has been shown to influence critical gains made and maintained by handicapped young children, it is important that local level programming also involve parents. This was not happening with consistency.

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Parent Involvement Programs: Local Level Status and Influences

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