Hawkins County‘s



Hawkins County‘s

Early Childhood Interventionist Program

Provided by: Julie Newland

This program has allowed the interventionist to work with students Pre-K thru 3rd grade. The interventionist works in twelve schools and the Early Childhood Learning Center. Referrals are made through the principals, school counselors, and teachers for children having behavior which is challenging or atypical as compared to their peers.

The program allows the interventionist the opportunity to work with parents, teachers, and the students. Every need is different. The interventionist often meets with parents as a liaison between home and school. The interventionist may also provide services by providing assistance to other professionals with classroom management techniques and crisis intervention strategies. Other times the interventionist may work with a small group of children who have similar inappropriate behaviors.

Literature, such as Julia Cook’s books are used to help students identify inappropriate behaviors and teach appropriate behaviors. “The Why Try” Curriculum has been used to motivate students to make appropriate choices and have high expectations for themselves. The interventionist has used this curriculum two ways, teaching a class through research based games and lessons and working individually with a student on the challenges and obstacles he faces and must overcome to be a successful student. The interventionist has assisted in remediating behavioral and social skills of students by using reinforcement surveys and observations to help implement effective behavior plans, visual schedules, and accommodations.

Also, the program allows the interventionist to work closely with other professionals, primarily teachers to collect data on inappropriate behaviors. The data is dissected to analyze frequency, antecedents, and environments in which the behaviors occur. The interventionist also serves as a member on a team when completing a functional behavior assessment and/or a behavior intervention plan on students whom I have received a referral.

As a member of the “Kindergarten Connection Team” the interventionist utilizes the opportunity to connect with parents and provide strategies which can be used at home to reinforce positive behavior, help their child develop independent skills, and teach organization skills to their child through effective and research-based discipline. The interventionist also utilizes the opportunity to work with parents by sharing information with them concerning community resources which are available to them.

Through the Early Childhood Intervention Program the interventionist has also been invited to work as a team member in beginning a support group for parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. This group is designed to network parents and facilitate the sharing of information to assist in addressing challenges of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Overall, the program allows the interventionist to serve as a consultant to parents, other professionals and paraprofessionals, as well as children in striving toward excellence in behavior.

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