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Teamwork for the Family
You can't work with children without working with the family. This is especially true with the Early Intervention Program. Children with language, motor or social delays, children with disabilities, premature babies, children who for some reason aren't developing normally all receive help in this program, directed by Stuart Zavin. Early Intervention intercedes during the first three years of life, the years most critical to a child's development.
It also takes a team to work successfully. Think of the Service Coordinator (SC) as the team leader. The SC works with the family every step of the way, from first contact through the age-out process at age three. Depending on the situation, the team could include occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, social work, nutritional services and nursing care. Once the child is evaluated and goals are established, the team goes to work. The goals vary as much as the children. For a child with speech delays, the goal could be to speak in sentences and communicate appropriately at age level. For a child with medical complications, it could be teaching the parents how to make the child comfortable using massage and positioning. In one case, VNSNY was called in to help a child with a metabolic disorder so rare no other child in the country had it.
Here are two stories that demonstrate Early Intervention (EI) in action.
Homeless in the Bronx
The EI team goes wherever families need help - homes, day care centers, community centers, hospitals and homeless shelters, too. A woman with one child gave birth prematurely to twins. The father walked out and the family ended up homeless. The SC assembled a team that included a social worker, speech and occupational therapists and special instructor for the twins' cognitive needs. The social worker managed to get the family into a shelter. Word went out and food, clothing, and baby essentials were collected. While the social worker worked on getting the family into regular housing and finding a job for the mother, the therapists worked with the twins. Sensory issues were a major concern: the twins couldn't tolerate too much stimulation from noise or even textured clothing. The therapists are continuing to work with the twins in their day care center while the SC is helping the family transition out of the program, yet continue to get the services they need.
Crisis in Daycare
A premature baby was referred to VNSNY while still in the NICU. The child was born with a foot that twisted outward. The pediatric orthopedist wanted physical therapy to begin immediately. VNSNY physical therapists have been working with the child, now a toddler, ever since on strength, balance and coordination. When he was a little over two, his parents separated and he started acting up in daycare, biting other children, throwing tantrums. His aggressive, disruptive behavior got to the point where he was asked to leave two day care centers. His mother tried a third center, problems continued, and she asked if VNSNY could help. Fortunately both parents and the day care staff are all committed to the child. VNSNY arranged for an evaluation by a psychologist who drew up a behavioral plan. Now a social worker is working with the child, parents and day care staff, teaching the parents and workers how to intervene successfully and helping the child understand his actions have consequences. The family is also receiving counseling. According to Stuart Zavin, Manhattan regional director, the plan is working because all the adults are dealing with difficult behavior the same way and the child gets a consistent message.
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