VIDBE-Q Volume 66, Issue 2
70
The Infant Toddler Program includes 16 teachers and 2 Social Workers, as
well as a Coordinator and a Program Director, all of whom needed training on how
to deliver services, engage families using virtual platforms, and supervise and
ensure continuity of services. Technology was also a core part of our initial
training. Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Lead Agency for Early
Intervention, allowed billing for virtual sessions that were conducted on multiple
platforms, enabling our teachers to reach more parents. Sessions were primarily
conducted via Zoom, WhatsApp, Facetime, and Google Meet. Our data indicates
that almost 60% of families used a smartphone or tablet as their primary method of
accessing telepractice services (Citino et al., 2020).
One of the core tenets of Early Intervention is that children learn best within
the context of positive relationships with caregivers, and that parents feel most
successful when they are able to most effectively engage with their children. Our
data shows that 75% of parents reported telehealth services with Perkins increased
the strategies used to help their child's development. Almost 60% of parents felt
more engaged with their child during visits, and 66% reported feeling more
confident in supporting their child (See figure 2). Lastly, our teachers were better
able to support parents within their home, attend IFSP and IEP meetings, had more
