Occupational therapy in early intervention: a family-centered approach

This article describes a framework for occupational therapy service provision in early intervention settings and presents pilot data aimed at examining the framework's effectiveness. The Family-Centered Framework for Early Intervention is a synthesis of concepts from the Model of Human Occupation (Kielhofner & Burke, 1980) and from the literature on play. It encompasses a systematic, holistic approach that considers the child and the family within the context of their life environments. In this framework, play is used both as an evaluative tool and as an intervention modality that addresses the volition, habituation, and performance of the child and family as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the environment. Play is also used as a primary measure of competence and change. This framework may be useful in defining occupational therapy roles for the early intervention population.