Policy and Management Supports for Effective Service Integration in Early

Effective service integration between Part C programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities and Early Head Start (EHS) offers opportunities to serve chil-dren with disabilities in natural environments and to provide a full range of comprehensive services for low income families. This study was a qualitative inquiry in five states and six local communities to learn how state and local administrators, di-rect care providers, and parents perceive the process of service integration in Part C and EHS. Through open-ended interviews, respondents shared perceptions of collabo-ration between the two programs at referral and intake, evaluation and individualized planning, service delivery, and transition out of the programs. Researchers sorted nar-rative material into categories through both thematic analysis and computerized soft-ware. Respondents perceive effective service integration to include administrative structures (e.g., interagency agreements, personnel policies), and interpersonal rela-tionships among the direct providers and families involved. Parents emphasized struc-tural factors such as a stable staff with minimal turnover, and interpersonal factors such as a comfortable and harmonious atmosphere among themselves and staff from the two programs. Staff stressed informal and open channels of communication, a