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Community-based early intervention: the Coimbra project (Portugal)
J Boavida1, M Espe-Sherwindt, L Borges
1Child Development Centre, Coimbra Children's Hospital, Portugal and; Family Child Learning Centre Tallmadge, Ohio, USA.
Insights
The Coimbra Early Intervention Project integrated health, education, and social services for at-risk children. Its success highlights the need for coordinated early intervention programs and supportive legislation.
Area of Science:
- Community health
- Developmental pediatrics
- Social services integration
Background:
- Early intervention is crucial for children with disabilities or developmental delays.
- Existing community resources often operate in silos, hindering comprehensive support.
- A coordinated, multidisciplinary approach is needed to address complex family needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and implement the first coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency early intervention program.
- To support families and children with disabilities or at risk within a specific region.
- To assess the feasibility and impact of integrated community services.
Main Methods:
- The Coimbra Early Intervention Project utilized existing community resources across health, education, and social services.
- The program provided region-wide support to approximately 160 families and children annually.
- Data was collected on children with developmental delay, high-risk families, and those with risk factors and disabilities.
Main Results:
- The program served 601 children, with 33% experiencing developmental delay, 22% from high-risk families, and 45% with risk factors and disabilities.
- Despite operational challenges, the project demonstrated success in its integrated approach.
- Increased community awareness regarding the necessity of service integration and early intervention legislation was observed.
Conclusions:
- Integrated, multidisciplinary early intervention programs are effective in supporting at-risk children and families.
- The Coimbra Early Intervention Project model underscores the importance of interagency collaboration.
- The findings advocate for policy development and legislative support for comprehensive early intervention services.
Abstract:
The Coimbra Early Intervention Project was undertaken to develop the first co-ordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency programme involving health care, education and social services, using existing resources in the community. The programme operates region wide and supports annually about 160 families and children with disabilities or at risk. Thirty-three per cent of the 601 children served so far had developmental delay, 22% belonged to high-risk families and 45% had risk factors and disabilities. In spite of difficulties, the programme success has increased awareness of the need to integrate and co-ordinate multiple community services and to develop legislation for the provision of early intervention services.