Moving Toward More Meaningful Family Participation During Home Visit Decision-Making

Abstract

42 YOUNG EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN Vol. 26, No. 1, March 2023 https://doi.org/10.1177/10962506211035362 DOI: 10.1177/10962506211035362 journals.sagepub.com/home/yec Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions © 2021 Division for Early Childhood Dee is an early intervention (EI) practitioner committed to partnering with families. She believes all families have expertise, and she aims to engage that expertise in making shared decisions with families. Her home visits are often filled with lively discussion and parent–child engagement. However, Dee has noticed that even parents who confidently share observations of their child rarely suggest their own ideas to further promote their child’s development, or engage with her in evaluating possible strategies. Dee has also noticed occasions when despite a family’s seeming interest in implementing a new strategy, plans are not carried out. As Dee reflects, she wonders: Just how shared were those decisions? What might I be missing? Decision-making between professionals and families is an integral part of early intervention (EI), as reflected by family-centered philosophies and practices embodied in the Division for Early Childhood’s (DEC, 2014) Recommended Practices. In particular, the DEC (2014) Family Recommended Practices incorporate practices that “promote the active participation of families in decision-making related to their child” (p. 9), including ensuring that decisions reflect family priorities and concerns (F4). Moreover, 1035362 YECXXX10.1177/10962506211035362YOUNG EXCEPTIONAL CHILDRENHome Visit Decision-Making / Hancock research-article2021