IMPACTS project: preparing therapists to provide best practice early intervention services

Area of Science:

• Early Intervention Practice
• Graduate Education
• Healthcare Professional Training

Background:

• The IMPACTS project is a master's level graduate program.
• It prepares occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, nurses, and special educators for early intervention practice.
• The program focuses on developing relationship-centered early intervention skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explain the conceptual framework of the IMPACTS graduate program.
• To identify themes in students' learning regarding professional-family relationships.
• To assess student growth in appreciation and competence in relationship-centered early intervention.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive report methodology.
• Qualitative analysis of students' reflective journals from a family practicum.
• Students engaged in a 50-hour, 6-month practicum with families of children with disabilities.

Main Results:

• Four key themes emerged from student journals: parenting a child with a disability is a 24/7 job, internal/external resources are vital for adaptation, parents are the child's experts, and family values must be respected.
• Student learning was validated by family evaluations of the practicum.
• Students demonstrated increased appreciation and competence in relationship-centered early intervention.

Conclusions:

• The family practicum effectively enhanced students' understanding of family-centered care.
• The identified themes provide a framework for training early intervention professionals.
• Competence in relationship-centered practice is crucial for effective early intervention.