Comparing Service Delivery Models for Children with Developmental Delays in Canada: Adaptive and Maladaptive Behaviours, Parental Perceptions of Stress and of Care

Abstract

This study compares two service delivery models (community-based and centre-based), examining them in light of children’s adaptive and maladaptive behaviours, and parental perceptions of stress and of care. More specifically, parents of 96 children with developmental delays assessed their children’s adaptive and maladaptive behaviours and rated their own perceived levels of stress as well as their perceptions of care from service providers. Findings indicated that children from the community-based sites were perceived as having less severe social skill deficits than those from centre-based sites. Regarding parental stress, mothers from community-based settings reported more challenges with their child’s father than did the mothers from centre-based settings; and fathers from the community-based settings reported more challenges related to their health than did the fathers from the centre-based settings. Regarding care, parents from the centre-based settings had more positive perceptions of care than did parents from the community-based settings. Therefore, in general, parents receiving services within community-based settings reported fewer positive perceptions of care and more challenges than those from centre-based settings. Overall, the results of this investigation can inform future programming for community- and centre-based service delivery systems. More specifically, the findings highlight the important role that family-centred care can play in supporting the needs of children with developmental delays and their families; particularly for families using community-based services.