Q3. What can early interventionists do to support families as they plan and prepare to make this big transition? 

<Cori Hill>



Here are some tips and strategies that may help to reduce the stress that families might experience:



First, if the early intervention program receives the referral from the NICU in enough time, a (temporary) service coordinator could visit the family in the hospital.  This provides the opportunity to build connection and establish relationship early on with the family, by meeting them face-to-face and sharing initial information about the local early intervention program.

Consider how to support extended family and friends. For example, a family may have a close friend or relative who lives nearby to the family's home and, therefore, would be an integral part of the family's daily routines. The friend or relative may not have been able to travel during the NICU stay and may have been feeling anxious from afar.  The infant's mother and early intervention practitioner could take pictures and videos of the various machines that would come home with the baby. The family member or friend would then have the opportunity to see and hear what life would look like and sound like when the infant arrives home.  


Don't forget family pets. They, too, will feel the stress and anxiety of the changes in home life. Many animal experts recommend bringing home a blanket or clothing item that the baby has worn so the animal has the opportunity to smell the new scents. Again, if there will be medical equipment, recording the beeping and alarm sounds and playing that around the pet prior to the infant arriving home helps ease that auditory transition.


Finally, use good coaching questions to learn what the family most needs. Questions such as, "What would be most helpful to you as you get settled at home?" or "Since you've been home, what parts of the day have gone smoothly? What parts have been more challenging?" assist in gathering information about the family's needs and priorities. Early interventionists might be surprised to find out that what the mother may most need is time to take a shower. Together the mother and the provider can consider options such as asking a family member or neighbor to come over for thirty minutes to make this daily routine possible. 

Without doubt, transition from the NICU to home and into the early intervention system is a big step. With planning, families are better prepared for the journey. They learn that this transition into early intervention will be an initial step toward building their confidence while they learn to support their child's development.