Ratings of early intervention services received by 91 mothers and fathers were analyzed one year after entry to programs in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. While a high level of helpfulness was indicated, service components directed specifically to parents instead of to parents and children together were rated less favorably. In addition, mothers and fathers differed in their ratings, and the weighting of perceived benefits varied by child and family characteristics. Implications for flexible and individualized program planning to meet differing family needs, and specifically to focus on the needs of fathers, are discussed, as well as the need for periodic solicitation of feedback from both mothers and fathers as part of program evaluation activities.
Able-Boone, H., Sandall, S.R., Loughry, A., & Frederick, L.L. (1990). An informed, family centered approach to PL 99–457: Parental views. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 10(1), 100–111.
3.
Affleck, G., Tennen, H., Rowe, J., Roscher, B., & Walker, L. (1989). Effects of formal support on mothers' adaptation to the hospital-to-home transition of high-risk infants: The benefits and costs of helping. Child Development, 60, 488–501.
4.
Baker, B.L. (1984). Intervention with families with young severely handicapped children. In J. Blacher (Ed.), Severely handicapped young children and their families (pp. 319–376). Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
5.
Barnard, K. (1978). Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scales. Seattle: University of Washington School of Nursing.
6.
Bayley, N. (1969). The Scales of Infant Development. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corp.
7.
Belsky, J. (1986). A tale of two variances: Between and within. Child Development, 57, 1301–1305.
8.
Belsky, J., Hrncir, E., & Vondra, J. (1983). Manual for the assessment of performance, competence, and executive capacity in infant play. Unpublished manuscript.
9.
Belsky, J., & Most, R. (1981). From exploration to play: A cross-sectional study of infant free play behavior. Developmental Psychology, 17, 630–639.
10.
Breslau, N. (1982). Continuity re-examined: Differential impact on satisfaction with medical care for disabled and normal children. Medical Care, 20, 347–360.
11.
Bristol, M.M., Gallagher, J.J., & Schopler, E. (1988). Mothers and fathers of young developmentally disabled and nondisabled boys: Adaptation and spousal support. Developmental Psychology, 24, 441–451.
12.
Damkot, D.K., Pandiani, J. A., & Gordon, L.R. (1983). Development, implementation and findings of a continuing client satisfaction survey. Community Mental Health Journal, 19, 265–278.
13.
Dunst, C., Jenkins, V., & Trivette, C. (1984). The family support scale: Reliability and validity. Journal of Individual, Family and Community Wellness, 1, 45–52.
14.
Fergusson, D.M., Beautrais, A.L., & Shannon, F. T. (1981). Maternal satisfaction with primary health care. New Zealand Medical Journal, 94, 291–294.
15.
Frey, K.S., Fewell, R.R., & Vadasy, P.F. (1989). Parental adjustment and changes in child outcome among families of young handicapped children. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 8(4), 38–57.
16.
Frey, K.S., Greenberg, M. T., & Fewell, R.R. (1989). Stress and coping among parents of handicapped children. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 94, 240–249.
17.
Gallagher, J.J. (1990). The family as a focus for intervention. In S.J. Meisels & J.P. Shonkoff (Eds.), Handbook of early childhood intervention (pp. 540–559). New York: Cambridge University Press.
18.
Goldberg, S., Marcovitch, S., MacGregor, D., & Lojkasek, M. (1986). Family responses to developmentally delayed preschoolers: Etiology and the father's role. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 90, 610–617.
19.
Guralnick, M.J. (1989). Recent developments in early intervention efficacy research: Implications for family involvement in PL 99–457. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 9(3), 1–17.
20.
Hauser-Cram, P., & Krauss, M.W. (1991). Measuring change in children and families. Journal of Early Intervention, 15, 288–297.
21.
Kaiser, A.P., & Hammeter, M.L. (1989). Value-based approaches to family intervention. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 8(4), 72–86.
22.
Lazar, I., & Darlington, R. (1982). Lasting effects of early education: A report from the Consortium for Longitudinal Studies. Monograph of the Society for Research in Child Development, 47(2–3, Serial No. 195).
23.
Marquis, M.S., Davies, A.R., & Ware, J.E. (1983). Patient satisfaction and change in medical care provider: A longitudinal study. Medical Care, 21, 821–829.
24.
McCarthy, D. (1972). McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corp.
25.
Patrick, D.L., Scrivens, E., & Charlton, J. (1983). Disability and patient satisfaction with medical care. Medical Care, 21, 1062–1075.
26.
Sandow, S.A., Clarke, A.D.B., Cox, M.V., & Stewart, F.L. (1981). Home intervention with parents of severely subnormal preschool children: A final report. Child: Care, Health, and Development, 7, 135–144.
27.
Shaw, I.F. (1984). Consumer evaluations of the personal social services. British Journal of Social Work, 14, 277–284.
28.
Shonkoff, J.P., Hauser-Cram, P., Krauss, M.W., & &pshur, C.C. (1990). The Early Intervention Collaborative Study: Final report of Phase I. Worcester: University of Massachusetts Medical School.
29.
Simeonsson, R.J., & Bailey, D.B. (1990). Family dimensions in early intervention. In S.J. Meisels & J.P. Shonkoff (Eds.), Handbook of early childhood intervention (pp. 428–444). New York: Cambridge University Press.
30.
Smith, N. (1986). Evaluating of alternatives for early intervention programs. In L. Bickman & D.L. Weatherford (Eds.), Evaluating early intervention programs for severely handicapped children and their families (pp. 185–205). Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
31.
Sparrow, S., Balla, D., & Cicchetti, D. (1984). Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales: Expanded form—Manual. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.
32.
Stein, R., & Reissman, C. (1980). The development of an impact-on-family scale: Preliminary findings. Medical Care, 18, 465–472.
33.
Summers, J.A., Dell'Oliver, C., Turnbull, A.P., Benson, H.A., Santelli, E., Campbell, M., & Siegel-Causey, E. (1990). Examining the Individualized Family Service Plan process: What are family and practitioner preferences?Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 10(1), 78–99.
34.
Vadasy, P.F., Fewell, R.R., Greenberg, M. T., Dermond, N.L., & Meyer, D.J. (1986). Follow-up evaluation of the effects of involvement in the fathers program. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 6(2), 16–31.
35.
Zastowny, T., Roghmann, K., & Hengst, A. (1983). Satisfaction with medical care: Replications and theoretical re-evaluation. Medical Care, 21, 294–322.
