Jocelin: a best-case scenario for a young child with disabilities who experienced abuse?

ABSTRACT

Cross-system collaborations are central to the provision of services for young children with disabilities who have experienced abuse. While multiple position papers and policy briefs emphasize and encourage these cross-system collaborations between the Early Intervention and Child Welfare systems, very limited empirical research has examined these collaborations. This intrinsic case study examines Jocelin, a young child who experienced abuse, her family, and the EI and CW professionals who support her and her family. We share three case study ‘patches’ to examine the approach to, as well as the quality and quantity of EI and CW services provided to Jocelin and her family. Implications for future research are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Early intervention
• child welfare
• child abuse and neglect
• service delivery
• cross systems collaboration

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Catherine Corr is interested in supporting the well-being of young children with disabilities (birth-8 years old) and their families. Dr. Corr addresses issues of maltreatment, abuse, neglect, trauma, toxic stress, and poverty in the context of early childhood special education research, policy, personnel preparation, and practice. Dr. Corr also examines ways to utilize mixed methods approaches to social inquiry in special education.

Rosa Milagros Santos’ research focuses on young children with disabilities and their families within the context of early intervention and early childhood special education services (EI/ECSE). Specifically, she is interested in developing an understanding of the ecologic influence of families and culture on parents and professionals in facilitating young children’s development and learning. To this end, she has engaged in research activities in three interrelated areas designed to advance the current knowledge base in the field of EI/ECSE. Her first research area is building empirical knowledge on how parents and other family members facilitate children’s learning and development. Her second research area is focused on developing a foundational understanding of the role that culture and language play in young children’s development. Her third research area focuses on translating research to practice for professionals in early childhood settings.

ORCID

Catherine Corr http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3953-1701

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Doris Duke Child Well-Being Fellowship.