Project collaborative care: experiences of child care and early intervention providers

Researchers indicate that both child care and IDEA Part C early intervention (EI) providers struggle to understand how to best serve young children with disabilities and their families. The goal of this study was to examine the experiences of child care and EI providers with infants and toddlers with disabilities in child care settings. Specifically, this study focused on how child care and EI programs collaborate. A sequential mixed method approach was employed for the purpose of development. Participants (N=991 (620 child care, 371 EI)), recruited through statewide professional development entities in a large Midwestern state, took part in a survey about their knowledge, beliefs, and experiences related to infants and toddlers with disabilities in child care, as well as their experiences collaborating with other professionals and professional development experiences. Additionally, 24 providers across the state participated in face-to-face focus groups to discuss the topic in more depth. Results indicated that providers across groups value inclusion. Although most child care providers had cared for children with disabilities at some point, and most EI providers had delivered services in child care settings, successful collaborations among groups was rare. Most often child care providers were not formally included in the EI process. Factors that contributed to successful inclusion and collaboration included understanding each other’s purpose, clarifying each other’s roles, and program and state support. Participants suggested that opportunities to build relationships with each other in addition to training on early childhood special education topics would be most beneficial to support collaboration.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Special Education

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2016

Author dc:creator

• Weglarz-Ward, Jenna Marie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Santos, Rosa M
• Dinnebeil, Laurie
• McBride, Brent
• Ostrosky, Michaelene M.

• early childhood
• special education
• child care
• early intervention
• infants
• collaboration

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2016 Jenna Weglarz-Ward

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/92733

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F92733