Coordinated Approach

The resources here support family services providers, home visitors, and Head Start staff who partner with other professionals to support the learning and development of children with disabilities and their families’ well-being. They highlight the importance of including families in that partnering process. Professional coordination that involves the families is essential across all aspects of the Head Start program, including recruitment, screening and referral, service planning and delivery, and transitions.

Families as Team Members in the Coordinated Approach to Disabilities Services

This webinar explains how and why family engagement is an essential part of a coordinated approach to disabilities services. Explore practices, strategies, and resources to support you in working collaboratively with families of children with disabilities.

Adult and child sitting on floor shuffling puzzle pieces.

Family Recruitment Video and Implementation Guide

The Head Start Cares About Your Whole Family video explores the history of inclusion in Head Start program recruitment. Discover the opportunities that programs have and the common challenges they face when enrolling children with disabilities, and the importance of coordinating with families and professionals in the inclusion process. Learn about family-centered solutions that programs have used to make sure children with disabilities and developmental delays can fully participate in program activities.

Adult helping child cut paper with scissors.

Recruiting and Enrolling Children

Explore the process of recruiting and enrolling children with disabilities or suspected delays in Head Start programs. Learn about the relevant regulations in the Head Start Program Performance Standards as well as strategies for putting those regulations into practice. This resource supports a coordinated approach to recruitment and enrollment.

Child in a wheel chair talking with a classmate and the teacher.

ECTA Practice Improvement Tools: Teaming and Collaboration

Encourage positive interactions between early childhood education providers and families using these tools from the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA). The checklists, video illustrations, and guides support practices recommended by the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children.

Communication for Collaboration

This CONNECT learning module provides guidance to early childhood staff working with children with disabilities on how to communicate effectively with other professionals and with families. Learn about a decision-making process for customizing communication practices for specific audiences and purposes.

Teacher setting a hearing aide device to a child.

Engaging Families and Creating Trusting Partnerships to Improve Child and Family Outcomes

This webinar series supports early childhood program leaders to strengthen inclusive settings and build the capacity of staff and families to develop trusting partnerships. Explore a systems approach to enacting the principles of the IDEA and the DEC Recommended Practices on family engagement.

Disabilities Services Coordinator Foundations: Recruitment, Enrollment, and Screening

This training session includes information on recruiting, enrolling, and screening children with disabilities. Log into the Individualized Professional Development (iPD) Portfolio to complete this course and earn continuing education units (CEUs). Receive 0.1 CEUs or one contact hour.

Smiling infant crawling on colorful cushioned floor tiles.

Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance (ERSEA) Worksheet and Action Plan

Use this worksheet and action plan to reflect on how your Head Start program serves children with disabilities and their families.

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Ongoing Child Assessment

Family Engagement

Family Engagement