Title: Early Childhood Intervention in Austria

Author(s): Manfred Pretis

Pages: 76-86

Abstract:The situation of early childhood intervention in Austria is analysed on diverse systems level (legal situation, organisation, concrete procedure. Children with disability or at risk of being disabled qualify for early childhood intervention as well as partly and to some extent also children in the context of socially disadvantaged families. Based on nine provincial laws, the structure of early childhood intervention in Austria is heterogeneous. A consensus regarding key terms, the age of the child (0- 3 or 6), and home-based services exists. Future challenges focus on early identification of vulnerable target groups by increased communication with community based networks (social worker, mental health specialists) as the number of children with unspecific developmental delays or vulnerability will increase (www.strong-kids.eu).

 Keywords: Early Childhood Intervention; systems development, Austria.

Title: Early Childhood Intervention in Belgium (French Speaking Community): Family needs, standards and challenges

Author(s): J.-J. Detraux and A.-F. Thirion

Pages: 87-96

Abstract:The services are provided mainly at home. This situation seems to meet the needs of the parents as a recent survey shows. Accessibility to the services is quite good although some parents with a disabled baby report that they did not receive adequate information. ECI services in Belgium do not provide therapies or medical care. They act as a mediator to empower the families as a whole. The use of existing regular services in hospitals, in specific rehabilitation centres or delivered by private therapists is encouraged. Various challenges are presented. Among others, we wonder how the ECI services will be able in a next future to cope with the increasing demands. Further, for the parents, a balance is to be found between the need for appropriate support and the need to assimilate the elements of the situation, find some landmarks and become able to take their own decisions. The networking with various regular services is another important challenge. Finally we explore the question of training and the necessary links to be maintained between in-service training and research.

Keywords: Early intervention, policy, practice, Belgium, children, work with parents.

Title: Early Intervention in Catalonia

Author(s): Climent Giné, Anna Balcells and Joana Mas

Pages: 97-110

Abstract: This paper describes the evolution of early intervention (EI) in Catalonia until its present day. The first attempts were established in the early seventies by interdisciplinary teams trying to improve the development of children with disabilities with an understanding that it was crucial to intervene as early as possible. Nowadays, EI in Catalonia consists of a well-established public network of Early Intervention Centres with specific catchment areas responsible for preventing, detecting, treating and monitoring children (and their families) with disorders in their development. The article provides an accurate description of the process that families with children with developmental delay follow from the time they discover a problem in their child’s development until they reach the Child Development and Early Intervention Centre. To this end, the article is divided into two parts. The first takes a brief look at the history of the legislation regarding EI in Catalonia, while the second focuses on how the services involved were conceived and are currently organised and implemented.

Keywords: Early intervention, policy, practice, Catalonia, target group, families.

Title: The Early-Aid-System in Germany

Author(s): Armin Sohns, Annette Hartung and Olaf Kraus de Camargo

Pages: 111-123

Abstract: The authors give an overview of the history of Early Aid centers in Germany. The legislative basis for the services provided as well as the professional standards required to provide these services are explained. Changes in society and different needs of children today in comparison to the beginning of early intervention services are described with a case example illustrating the benefits of a family centred approach and interdepartmental cooperation.

Keywords: Early intervention, policy, practice, Germany, complex aid.

Title: Early childhood Intervention in Lithuania: Organisation and challenges

Author(s): Stefanija Ališauskiene

Pages: 124-135

Abstract: In the article the system of early childhood intervention (ECI) in Lithuania has been presented: the structure, organisation, functioning, the legal background of ECI, and the requirements for professional training in ECI field have been described, “Life-line” of a very young child at risk or a child with developmental disorders has been shown. The opinions of parents and ECI professionals about various aspects of collaboration: parents’ satisfaction with ECI, collaboration between parents and professionals, organisational priorities of ECI activity, the nature of child’s recognition, professional improvement, have been analysed and parents participation in ECI has been described. The scientific publications on ECI in the country have been analysed. The survey of on ECI in Lithuania stressing on positive aspects as well as on the challenging issues has been performed.

Title: Early Childhood Intervention in Spain: Standard needs and changes

Author(s): Pilar Gutíez

Pages: 136-148

Abstract:This paper describes the situation of ECI in Spain, taking into account the political organisation in 17 “autonomous” communities and steps towards comparable standards and coordination of services. Alongside with the legal basis of ECI diverse bodies (health, social and education) are described, highlighting the need of coordination. Within this context the “White paper on Early Intervention” by the GAT/Real Patronato Sobre Discapacidad (2005) can be seen as one major attempt, to create a “covering roof” within a diversity of services and structures in Spain.

Keywords: Early intervention, policy, practice, Spain, coordination.

Title: Early Childhood Intervention in Turkey: Current situation, challenges and suggestions

Author(s): Melek Er-Sabuncuoglu and Ibrahim H. Diken

Pages: 149-160

Abstract: The regular early childhood education in Turkey has a history of more than 100 years. However, early childhood intervention services for young children with special needs (vulnerabilities) and their families are getting more attention in recent years. This article aims to briefly overview current early childhood intervention (ECI) services in Turkey. The article at first summarizes regular early childhood education in Turkey. Then, profile of disability groups, ECI legal arrangements and practices, and ECI profession are being addressed and discussed. Finally, suggestions for ECI in Turkey are being made.

Keywords: Early intervention, policy, practice, Turkey, children.

Title: Early Childhood Intervention in the UK: Family, needs, standards and challenges

Author(s): Chris Robertson and Wendy Messenger

Pages: 161-171

Abstract: Early intervention for vulnerable children is acknowledged as a critical factor in ensuring the best outcomes for children and their families. This paper outlines policies and processes in the United Kingdom which facilitate appropriate early intervention, including inter-agency working and communication. It explores how theory is translated into practice through a short case study exemplifying how intervention works in reality. This case study is set in a context of the early 21st century in the UK when the then labour government invested in a policy which set to address the needs of every child through inter- and trans- agency working. This was located in a policy white paper entitled ‘Every Child Matters (DfES 2004). However, a recent general election leading to a change of government in May 2010, has created an unpredictable future for existing policies and practices which has been compounded by a worsening economic situation in the UK. Thus, the paper discusses both existing policy and practices but also hypothesizes on what the future might hold in terms of the early identification of vulnerable children and the provision of appropriate services and strategies to meet effectively these needs of both children and their families.

Keywords: Early intervention, policy, practice, UK, children, families.

Title: PRECIOUS Professional Resources in Early Childhood Intervention: Online tools and standards

Author(s): Manfred Pretis

Pages: 172-179

Abstract: Within the European Lifelong learning Project PRECIOUS (www.precious.at) a Master curriculum towards the training of professionals in Early Childhood was developed. Precious is based on increased empirical data, that a) ECI requires an academic professional training and b) that specific professional trainings are correlated with better effects. This 2-year training (120 ECTS) within the 1st year deepens the scientific aspect of ECI (Scientific Research in ECI: 15 ECTS; Recognition and Detection: 10 ECTS; Working together with Families: 10 ECTS; Working in Teams: 10 ETCS; Individual Intervention: 10 ECTS, Personal Competences: 5 ECTS). Within the 2nd year 3 possible “specialised strands” are available, focussing on diverse needs of professionals: Specialisation A: “Management, Research and Quality Control in ECI” (60 ECTS, Specialisation B: “Resilient Families” focusing on the needs of socially disadvantaged families, and Specialisation C: “Inclusive support” focusing on specific syndromes (autism, complex learning difficulties, low birth weight babies). The Master Courses will be implemented in Germany (Gera, Nordhausen, Hamburg) and – in future – will enable international European courses, supported by specifically developed e-learning-tools and online-resources.