Exploring Early Childhood Professionals’ Perceptions and Practices to Initiate the Early Intervention Referral Process Under Child Find

• In Event: Thursday Roundtable Session 4:20 pm
  In Roundtable Session: State and District Policies for Equitable Support of Young Children (Table 3)

Abstract

Despite being well-positioned to observe children and support families in the referral process, early childhood professionals (ECPs) are low reporters of developmental concern to state Child Find agencies. Few studies have directly explored how ECPs, working with children ages 0 to 5 (prior to the start of kindergarten) perceive their roles, current professional supports, or willingness to engage with families to discuss developmental or other concerns and partner in the referral process in their states. However, as primary care providers to young children, ECPs are uniquely situated in naturalistic conditions to observe children, share concerns, and support the referral process. This study explores how 19 ECPs in Michigan and Ohio perceive their engagement with Child Find systems in their state.

Author

• Katherine Kresin Delaney, University of Toledo