Intervention Services

This chapter introduces the reader to the different types of intervention available. This includes state-based early intervention services as well as the supports available through the public school system. Information on services provided by the public school system will be discussed including how to set-up an individualized education program, what steps to take if you are told your child does not qualify for school-based services, and whether you should consider grade retention. Private therapies and therapeutic preschool programs also will be discussed. Strategies to help you recognize when an intervention might be based on pseudoscience will be presented along with tips for identifying good quality information, including research articles that might be relevant for your child.

A Pilot Study of Universal Teacher–Child Interaction Training at a Therapeutic Preschool for Young Maltreated Children

Young children are disproportionately exposed to maltreatment but are underrepresented in research on effective treatments. Universal Teacher-Child Interaction Training (TCIT-U), developed from Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, may be especially appropriate for maltreated children as they often experience caregiver disruptions which pose challenges to traditional parent-child treatment. Furthermore, research suggests that teachers can play an important role for children who lack positive caregiving experiences. The current study examined the effectiveness of TCIT-U versus treatment-as-usual (TAU) at a therapeutic preschool for youth exposed to maltreatment. Thirty-eight children (2–5 years old) and eight teachers from four classrooms participated in the study. Teacher behaviors were observed and coded at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. Teachers reported on children’s behavior and social-emotional skills at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. TCIT-U teachers demonstrated substantial increases in positive attending skills (PRIDE [Praise, Reflection, Imitation, Description, and Enjoyment] skills) and decreases in negative talk and questions during intervention phases, and these skills were maintained at follow-up. In addition, children in the TCIT-U classrooms demonstrated a significantly greater increase in overall social-emotional skills by post-treatment than children in the TAU classrooms, and effect sizes were moderate for all child outcomes. Findings provide preliminary support for TCIT-U’s effectiveness in a therapeutic setting for children exposed to maltreatment.