In Early Intervention we work from Individualized Family Service Plans, and it is no mistake that the whole FAMILY is included in our planning.  We know from research that the way a family functions is the biggest influence on who a child becomes and what they are capable of.  This is especially true for kiddos with IFSPs.  We can partner with parents to figure out the best supportive seating or strategies to encourage more spoken language, but if the family is barely holding their life together, our interventions usually take a backseat, often a seat way, way in the back.
 
We know that it is important to slow down to think about how families are managing the additional stress of raising a child who is eligible for our services.  It is equally important to consider the well-being of siblings who are often vying for attention from parents who are stretched thin.  Those siblings, who will most likely really appreciate our attention, are often some of our biggest allies in making sure that there is time for the strategies and ideas that we feel might make a big difference in a child’s development.  

When was the last time that you slowed down and thought about how to support and work with siblings on your caseload?  Well, IDA is giving you that opportunity next month.  We hope that you will join the IDA Events team and presenters: Nikki Donnelly, Kalyn Farris and Liza Stack on Tuesday, May 16 at 6pm (one of our rare evening events) as we Consider the Sibling Experience when Supporting Families in Early Intervention and Beyond Using a Culturally Competent Approach.  For more details and registration, click Here.