Early Intervention Providers’ Practices for Families of Children With Medical Complexities

Children with medical complexities (MC) are one population of infants and toddlers served under Part C Early Intervention (EI) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004). Children with MC and their families have unique characteristics, such as requiring frequent medical appointments, needing extensive medical equipment, and incurring significant financial and social impacts. The literature on children with MC in EI is scant. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand what practices EI providers believe are important for children with MC and their families, using interview data from 19 EI providers across the United States. We constructed four themes that represent the findings: (a) capacity-building practices, (b) individualizing and slowing down, (3) collaborating with professionals, and (c) intentionality around intersectionality. More research is needed that focuses on this population of infants and toddlers, so that we ensure that EI providers are well prepared to address their unique needs, and that families and children with MC receive the best care possible.