Family-focused intervention model: Implementation and research findings

The family-focused intervention model, as conceptualized by Bailey et al. (1986), was implemented with 16 families having infants (birth to 3 years) with moderate or severe disabilities. Each step of the model was performed, resulting in assessment and intervention being applied to each family. Individualized Family Service Plans were formulated through the collabora-tive efforts of parents and the interventionist. Multiple baselines across targeted, individualized, familial behaviors resulted in progressive skill attainment by each family member. As a result of intervention, positive interactions were noted. Qualitative analyses of familial behaviors con-firmed enhancement of their skill repertoire. Evaluation of the effective-ness of the family-focused intervention model resulted in high levels of parental satisfaction, accelerated rates of progress by children with moder-ate or severe disabilities, and acquisition of functional skills by families. Implications for clinical intervention programs and future research are discussed. Infants with at-risk or handicapping conditions and their fami-lies present a multiplicity of needs in terms of support and resource requirements, behavioral competencies, and interactional patterns. Research investigating family functioning has suggested that the trans-actional nature of families results in each family member influencing the other (Silber, 1989). Due to the individualized set of circumstances for each family, appropriate clinical interventions require a more holistic approach that assesses and addresses the needs of each family member