Parent Satisfaction with Professionals Having a Family Systems Orientation to Early Intervention

Abstract

This article describes a pilot study conducted to examine parent satisfaction with professionals who provided early intervention services to rural families. Professionals working with infants and young children with disabilities were surveyed to determine their orientation towards a family systems approach to working with families. Interventionists provided information about the degree to which they perceived themselves involving parents in the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) process. Parents were also questioned about their satisfaction with the services which both they and their child received. Results showed that parents appeared to be equally satisfied with interventionists regardless of the degree of orientation towards a family systems model of intervention. Implications for service delivery and further research are discussed.