Social Work Now, Issue 35, pages 17-21.
The Intervening Early Programme (IEP) is an early childhood education support programme for families with young children who are deemed to be in an at-risk situation. Families are referred to this programme by a Child, Youth and Family social worker. The social worker evaluates the situation and may find that the parents lack specific skills or knowledge, but with support mechanisms in place, it would be more appropriate for the children to stay in the care of their parents. Areas of concern may include supervisory, emotional or educational neglect. There may be a history of high needs, including lack of parental knowledge, isolation, lack of understanding of children’s learning and development and the need for effective behaviour management skills.
The IEP is a strengths-based support and education programme that specifically caters for individual needs. It supports families in their home environments and works one-on-one to meet the children’s and families’ holistic needs. The programme is based on the formation of reciprocal relationships with clear boundaries and outcomes in place. All of the organisations and agencies involved with any family collaborate on the goals and strategies that are put in place to support the family. All opportunities and support services in the family’s community are utilised to provide ongoing support when the programme finishes.
The emphasis of this programme is to support the parents so that they have a greater understanding of their children’s unique learning and development. The programme allows time to visit with the family once a week for the first month and then fortnightly until the end of the programme.