148
Posters Advancing Comprehensive Early Childhood Intervention
Session 1
FAMILIES Topic - Family-Centered Practices
p1.21 Bridging Families and Professionals: A Communication Campaign to Empower Family-Centered Early Childhood Intervention Presenting Author: Madalena Ricoca-Peixoto (Portugal) Affiliation: National School of Public Health (Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública (ENSP)) Co-Author: Patrícia Claudino Family-centered practices are vital for fostering developmental outcomes and empowering families in early childhood intervention. However, misalignment between professionals’ approaches and families’ needs often hinders their implementation. In Portugal, the National System for Early Childhood Intervention (SNIPI) provides a multisectoral framework, but challenges remain in integrating family-centered practices within Local Intervention Teams (ELIs). This paper presents an innovative audio-visual communication campaign designed to foster proximity and mutual understanding between families and professionals. The campaign features videos of professionals sharing their perspectives on family-centered intervention and key messages for families, alongside videos of families expressing their needs, concerns, and expectations for professionals. Grounded in behavioral science and communication principles, the campaign began with a qualitative diagnostic phase and will be piloted in the Alentejo region to evaluate its impact and allow scalability. The campaign will foster systemic change, inform best practices, and strengthen collaboration between families and professionals. p1.22 Building Bridges: Family Training and Community Work Presenting Author: ELI Viana do Alentejo (Portugal) Affiliation: Terra Mãe Association Co-Authors: Sofia Branco, Joana Cabral, Cristina Carvalho, Dulce Chanfana, Maria Vital, Maria Joao Pereira This work focuses on the family-centered approach to Early Childhood Intervention (ECI). We intend to contribute to a deeper understanding of the family-centered approach in Portugal, focusing both on family empowerment practices and on strengthening prevention practices in the community. We also aim to understand whether the basic concepts based on models of promotion, empowerment and partnership, based on the family's strengths and resources, are facilitated by practices of identification, screening and early action in the community. We will present an exemplary case study of the family-centered early childhood intervention (ECI) model, based on the child’s natural life contexts (0-6 years) and community resources, from the Local Intervention Team (ELI) in Viana do Alentejo, in which we aim to promote family empowerment in relation to their child's development.
p1.23 Early Intervention in Costa Rica Presenting Author: Margarita Cañadas, Beatriz Cordero, Peggy Kemp (Costa Rica) Affiliation: Universidad Santa Paula Costa Rica
Over the past few decades, the field of early intervention (ECI) research has evolved both in its conception and in the development of its professional practice. In the late 1980s, a paradigm shift occurred in the United States, with the emergence of a family- centered philosophy. From this approach, Recommended Practices (RP) in ECI aim to support and strengthen significant changes in the functioning of children and families in the environments where they learn. Despite these changes in the field of ECI, practices in Costa Rica are not currently focused on the family as established in the RP. This research proposes the implementation of comprehensive early care systems based on the guidelines and principles of the PR, with the participation of different early care services of the Costa Rican Ministry of Public Education and Patronato Nacional de la Infancia.
p1.24 Empathy-Guided Partnerships With Families as the Foundation for Supporting Children to Thrive Presenting Author: Lynaire Doherty, Naina Modi-Patel (New Zealand) Affiliation: Ohomairangi Trust
Ohomairangi Trust is a Kaupapa Māori early intervention organization based in Aotearoa New Zealand, and we support children under 6 years with complex learning support needs. We prioritize building compassionate, collaborative relationships with each family, recognizing the significance of face-to-face interactions that are authentic, respectful, compassionate and non-judgmental. We are aware of the impacts of colonization and intergenerational trauma, and we approach families with humility, understanding that they know their child best. We emphasize self-care as well as awareness and curiosity about personal biases and triggers to ensure we are fully present and attuned when supporting families. Our holistic approach involves getting to know each family’s unique environment through ecomaps and routine-based interviews. To mitigate long waiting times for individual support, we immediately offer families our Mellow Ability parent program (focused on grief, loss, and peer connection) or the More than Words program (focused on enhancing children’s communication skills).
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