Recommended Practices in Early Intervention: a Mixed Methods Exploration of Provider Perspectives on Family-Centered and Capacity-Building Practices

Early intervention providers work with children 0–3 and their families and come from a variety of disciplines. To better understand how providers enact family-centered and capacity-building practices in their work, we surveyed 95 providers in Illinois and conducted 19 follow-up interviews. Within the survey, participants responded to 15 Likert-type items. We analyzed the qualitative survey and interview data to determine themes, showing that (1) EI providers have expectations that families be both passive and active participants in services; (2) EI providers hold both strengths-based and judgment-based views of families; (3) EI providers value routines-based and specialized materials when providing services to children and families; (4) EI providers value connecting families to resources but may view some resources as outside their role; (5) EI providers collaborate with families by getting their input and building their capacities; and (6) EI providers’ professional and personal qualities set the stage for family-centered and capacity-building practices. We analyzed data quantitatively, including looking at differences among types of providers (i.e., from different disciplines, with different years of experience, and independent vs. agency-affiliated providers) and found statistically significant differences for only one statement. We mixed the data and developed joint displays to provide a more nuanced perspective. Findings of this study indicated a need to build a shared understanding among providers about how to partner with families effectively and use strengths-based practices. We need to better understand how providers reflect family-centered and capacity-building practices, because these ultimately profoundly impact families’ experiences in early intervention.