One Program's Journey

Abstract

Initially, many providers viewed the natural environment initiative as a move to close center-based or specialized facilities and as the newest "fad" in service delivery. Training and technical support for this initiative has allowed providers to recognize that natural environments embody philosophical intent essential to a truly family-centered process. This family-centered process never removes the family from their natural environment but rather, works with the family to make their environment more responsive to the child's needs. Service providers are challenged to value the family's typical routine so that they make their supports and services "fit" the family instead of requiring the family [to] "fit" the program (Elder, 1999, ¶6).

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