The Importance Of Early Intervention
The birth of a child is one of the most anticipatory, life-changing events in a couple's life. Yet during this time of joy and celebration, so many questions run through the parent's minds. Who will the child look more like? What will the child be when he or she grows up? Will we be good parents? But what if the baby has a disability, a health problem, or a special need? What happens next, and who can new parents turn to? An early intervention is designed to help connect new parents with services ranging from medical practitioners and education, to tutoring and counseling.
There are three main reasons to consider an early intervention program. First, early intervention services enhance child development. Intervention research suggests that the rate of human learning and development is most rapid in the first five years of life. Early skill development is crucial to laying the groundwork for lifelong education. Secondly, these interventions assist parents and siblings, helping them deal with feelings of stress or helplessness, while learning to maintain a positive attitude.
Families of handicapped children are found to have increased instances of divorce, suicide and domestic abuse, experts say, so an early intercession is critical to managing emotions from the onset. Lastly, early intervention services will increase the child's developmental and educational gains, increasing his or her eligibility for future employment and self-sufficiency.
Some parents wonder, "Can I afford an early intervention? What are the costs associated with care?" In most cases, early intervention programs are state-funded and are provided to parents and children free of charge initially. Some schools also offer special education services free of charge. There are different options to accommodate parents of all income brackets, so don't let cost deter you.
In one intervention study, Wood (1981) calculated the total cumulative costs from infancy to age 18 of special education services, starting interventions at different ages: birth, 2 and 6. She found that total costs were lower if treatment began at birth! The total cost spent on intervention services was $37,273 if initiated at birth, compared to $46,816, if begun at age 6. In some cases, children who went through an intervention did not require any more special services at all.
One valuable resource for information is the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities. On their website (http://www.nichcy.org) parents can check the State Resource Sheet to find early intervention services in their state. They can also fill out the Record-Keeping Worksheet, which is designed to help parents take an organized approach to their child's care. This is a great starting point if you are considering an early intervention assessment by a multidisciplinary group of professionals, such as psychologists, social workers, early interventionist educators, occupational therapists and physical therapists.
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Today's Tip On Intervention
Before interventions take place, the support team must consider what "the next step" will be. The ultimate goal of an intervention plan is to present the individual with a path to recovery; a path that traditionally involves institutional support, whether it's a medical detoxification clinic or an Alcoholics Anonymous support group. Some substance abuse treatment centers cost as much as $50,000 for a 30-day inpatient program, while others are government-funded and accept Medicare insurance payments. There are day treatments or outpatient care arrangements, where the recovering addict attends group meetings 3-4 hours per day 3-5 days per week. For more seriously afflicted individuals, there are inpatient arrangements which can be completed in 7-10 days or residential drug and alcohol treatment programs that last 21-45 days or even a year. Even after the individual is released from inpatient treatment, he or she may continue with outpatient treatment for up to six months to ensure long-term success.
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