The Early Interventionist

The Early Interventionist

By Erika C. BowenEducation
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The Early Interventionist episodes

  • The IFSP Story

    The IFSP tells the story of the child/family.  But how good are we at writing that story down and focusing that story into family specific outcomes/goals?  I'm working on my own skills as I write each family's unique story.  Do you find yourself on auto pilot at IFSP meetings listening to parents express the same concerns for their child?  How can we dig deeper into the story behind the concerns to shape their priorities into outcomes/goals.  Parents/caregivers often tell us they want their child to talk and use words, but what words does that parent/caregiver want their child to say?

    Resources: Pause & Reflect: Your Guide to a Deeper Understanding of Early Intervention Practice by Dana Childress

    EI on the Fly Podcast

    MDE Part C video training

    22 min
  • What Empowers Parents?

    If you had to describe the mission of Early Intervention what would it be?  I reflect on what empowers parents to do what we know they can do?  I reference stories both rainy and sunny about how I tried, failed and succeeded at empowering the parents I work with.  How do we as Early Interventionists fill the gap between parents feeling they need help to them feeling empowered? 

    Resources: The Art and Practice of Home Visiting by Ruth E. Cook, Ph.D., Shirley N. Sparks, M.S., CCC-SLP

    8 Ways Home Visitors Can Facilitate Family Empowerment

    23 min
  • Practice Makes Progress

    Practice makes progress with our families and with our students!  When can you seize those opportunities to practice?  How can you invite parents/caregivers to practice on visits?  I share a story about my son Sam who received Early Intervention services and a conversation I had with colleagues about this topic.  Parents/caregivers need practice as much as our students do. Both parents and children learn best when given the chance to practice in real time and real context.  I reflect on how to cross that bridge from talking about how to do something to actually putting the plan into action/practice!

    18 min
  • Break free from the bag!

    In this episode I reflect on my emotions and process from moving towards a coaching model and away from the idea that "intervention comes from a bag."  I reflect on, "Why am I bringing what I'm bringing."  "What am I going to do if I don't have my bag!"  Listen to a story about a mom who needed help understanding sensory and how I got mom to "buy into" using something she's never used before.  What you carry with you visit to visit is your knowledge and experience and there isn't a bag big enough for those two things!

    Resources: Coaching Quick Reference Guide Dathan Rush M'Lisa Sheldon

    Pause & Reflect by Dana Childress

    24 min
  • It’s all in the details!

    Joint planning is what connects each visit to the next.  Hear how this mom took action and ownership of how she was going to use a new visual cue with her daughter and what I didn't say that lead her to figuring out a way that was going to be easiest for her to implement!  You can never know enough about a family's routines.  It's sometimes the "micro routines" where we find the key to implementing something new! 

    15 min
  • Great Expectations Part 2

    Embrace the struggle (or the rain) it's how we grow!  This special episode links to the previous episode (Great Expectations).  Did mom leave the room again?  Was the joint plan followed?  Listen as I try and go back to basics in order to move forward with this family.  Am I really following mom's priorities?  How good are you at planning for the next visit?  Planning will be key with this family!

    17 min
  • Great Expectations Part 1
    What are your expectations for parents and caregivers on visits? Do you know what they expect from you? How are we communicating these expectations? What happens when the parent or caregiver leaves the room? Are they avoiding the visit, do they have something more pressing happening at the moment? I reflect on a second visit I’ve had with a mom and son and how mom will leave us during the visit. Listen as I try and figure out how do I shape this visit into what is going to be most meaningful for mom and her son.
    19 min
  • Creating Balance

    Weathering the storms during a visit! I reflect on a visit where I am walking into a storm. He’s mad and wants the phone; mom is trying to set limits and saying no however just as we get over one storm another one is brewing. How do I balance my support? Who do I engage with…child, parent?? What is my role? What is the plan? These things and more are thundering through my head as I try and support mom in finding strategies that will be manageable for the family and practicing them in the moment.

    Resources:  Pause & Reflect: Your Guide to a Deeper Understanding of Early Intervention Practice by Dana Childress

    22 min
  • Feedback Feeds Confidence and Competence
    Forget the Chicken Soup! Feedback feeds the soul! Today’s visit taught me how important it is to share our feedback with our families. To affirm to them what they are doing is making a difference in their child’s life. Sometimes they need to hear it so bad that they are willing to snowplow their driveway to ensure you’re coming (as if snow in Minnesota could stop a home visit)!
    19 min
  • First Episode, First Visit!
    What better way to start the first episode of the podcast than to begin with a very first visit with a family! Mom wants him to say, "please." "He won't say please!" "Why won't he say please!" How do you move parents to get off the hamster wheel of doing the same thing but not getting anywhere? Hear how I tried and stay tuned to see if I succeed with this mom and her persistence with "please."
    15 min

About The Early Interventionist

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to The Early Interventionist—the podcast built for Minnesota Part C providers, navigating the daily realities of home visiting and family collaboration.