Family Service Delivery in Early Head Start: Perspectives of Professionals in Six States

This study employed a survey method to obtain an understanding of these issues from staff working in 40 EHS programs (Waves I--IV) in six Midwestern states. In addition, phone interviews with EHS directors provided program demographics and background information. Results from the study showed that EHS staff believed in the importance of family-centered practice, yet at the same time, voiced varying degrees of difficulty in implementing it. Staff perspectives about challenges, needs, strategies, and suggestions for the FPA and IFSP development alluded to staff perception of such difficulty. The results indicated that the FPA and IFSP are two common as well distinct processes. Important to both of the processes is the relationship-based model of service delivery in which staff establish relationships and partnerships with families and staff from other community agencies. Collaboration at three levels (e.g., between families and staff, among staff from different agencies, and between agencies) is the key to an effective family-centered IFSP process.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Zhang, Chun

Contributors dc:contributor

• Tess Bennett

• Social Work

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI9990205

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/80444