FAMILY OUTCOMES IN EARLY INTERVENTION - A FRAMEWORK FOR PROGRAM-EVALUATION AND EFFICACY RESEARCH

Much of the focus on the relationship between parents and professional s in early intervention has been on the rationale for working with fam ilies and the processes by which that rationale should be implemented Although some discussion has occurred regarding desired outcomes, appr oaches and strategies by which the attainment of family outcomes could be documented have not been widely discussed or agreed upon by the fi eld. In this article we suggest eight questions that could serve as a framework for determining the extent to which early intervention has a ccomplished the goals inherent in a family-centered approach. Conceptu al issues and methodological considerations associated with documentin g these outcomes are presented, and recommendations regarding implemen tation and future directions are made.