Early Intervention in the Community for preschool children and their families
Early Intervention in the Community for preschool children and their families
THEOTOKOS FOUNDATION
EARLY INTERVENTION DEPARTMENT
MARIE ANGE WIDDERSHOVEN, Psychologist Drs- Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist MIRELLA GIANNAKOPOULOU, MSc Special Educator
THEOTOKOS FOUNDATION
Prevention and Intervention Research Program Three- Tiered Levels of Prevention
• Primary Prevention level: raising awareness in the community • Secondary Prevention level: early identification in the kindergartens
• Tertiary Prevention level: intervention services for preschoolers aged 2 to 6 years old and their families at ECI department of Theotokos Foundation
ECI program for preschool children and their families in the community
• This program is a cooperation of Theotokos Foundation and Municipality of Ilion and Kamatero, which started in 2015
• The program is aimed at children aged 2- 5 and their families, in 12 kindergartens of the Municipality of Ilion, while in 2019 8 kindergartens of the Municipality of Kamatero joined the program
• 1605 children and families have received assessment and counseling services from specialized therapists
• The ECI in the community was funded from 2017-2019 by the Region of Attica
Objectives of the program Early detection and intervention in the community for preschool children and their families in order to:
1. Prevent developmental delays and emotional difficulties 2. Enhance children’s overall development
3. Empower their families
4. Support teachers into kindergarten schools
5. Achieve inclusion into the school and in other social environments
Methodology
• PHASE 1 Awareness
• PHASE 2 Screening
• PHASE 3 Identification
• PHASE 4 Consultation with parents
• PHASE 5 Diagnosis
• PHASE 6 Intervention
PHASE 1: Awareness • Meetings with the Municipalities
• Meetings with Municipality Scientific Staff (child- psychologists, speech and occupational therapists, social workers and pediatricians)
• Meetings with the educational staff of kindergartens
• Conducting presentations to parents and kindergarten school teachers in order to
• increase awareness about the usefulness of the program • provide training on how to implement the questionnaires
PHASE 2: Screening • Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (parents and childcare teachers)
• Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) • Speech Development Questionnaire
Categories following questionnaire analysis
• Group 1:
•No difficulties
• Group 2:
• Mild difficulties in development and/or parenting
Proposal for parent information groups held at day nurseries or kindergarten schools
• Group 3:
• Children with an indication of risk for developmental delay or psychosocial and emotional difficulties
Advice for further assessment
PHASE 3: Identification at school environment • Denver Developmental Screening Test
• AnOmiLo4 Speech & Language Screening Test • Clinical Examination by Psychologist/SLT/ OT
• Classroom Observation
• Cooperation with educational staff
PHASE 4: Consultation with parents • Family History
1. Feedback about the child development and their level of functionality
2. Information about infant parent interaction and communication at home environment 3. Mental health history in the family
• Verbal report on child’s level of performance during the assessment at the nursery
• Advice child for further assessment only if at risk
Referral Proposals after consultation with parents
Group 1
Mild signs of difficulties
Group 2
Difficulties in one specific developmental area
• Advice/ counselling
• Follow-up in one year
• Referral for assessment in public services
Referral Proposals
Group 3
Difficulties in more than one developmental area
Group 4
Signs of psychosocial and emotional difficulties
• Diagnosis through public system • Diagnosis by the scientific team of Theotokos Foundation
• Referral for Infant-Parent Psychotherapy by Theotokos experts
• Referral to public services
PHASE 5: Diagnosis in Theotokos Foundation • Developmental Pediatrician
• Child- Psychiatrist
• Clinical Psychologist/ Developmental Psychologist • Speech and Language Therapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Social Worker
PHASE 6: Intervention • Speech and/or Occupational Therapy and inclusion in mainstream school setting
• Infant- Parent Psychotherapy
• Enrollment in Early Intervention Department at Theotokos Foundation
Number of Questionnaires analysed from 12 childcare centers (20 in 2020)
618
350 360 332 323 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Data analysis of the Questionnaires
209
Screening
93 209 139 159168
11590
Awareness Raising No problem
8071
200
142 13191 76
2016 n=350 2017 n=360 2018 n=332 2019 n=315 2020 n=618
Total Screened: 1609
Total children with difficulties: 768, 40% of total
Mixed Developmental Difficulties: 45% of children examined, 7% of total Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties: 55% of children examined, 8% of total
Ratio of Developmental Difficulties/ Psychosocial and Emotional Difficulties
Emotional difficulties
Developmental difficulties
Developmental Difficulties were found in 7% of the total population
Psychosocial and Emotional Difficulties were found in 8% of the total population
Future Thoughts
• Increase community’s awareness on cognitive, language, motor or sensory issues that affect children’s development
• Group training for educational staff
• Handbooks on:
- Methodology
- Training parents
- Training educational staff
• Implementing the program to other Municipalities in Athens (something we achieved during the covid crisis!)
Thank you!
mwiddershoven@theotokos.gr mgiannakopoulou@theotokos.gr