This book provides a guide for planning, providing, and documenting effective early interventions for infants and toddlers and their families. It discusses best practices for engaging the family, team problem-solving, developing individual treatment plans, incorporating evidence-based interventions, tracking progress, and identifying and solving challenges and obstacles presenting during treatment. The book focuses on the approximately 13% of U.S. children under age 3 who have developmental delays/disabilities, many of which may impair their ability to talk, move, learn, socialize, and become independent. When delivered effectively, early intervention can improve daily function and outcomes for these children, many of whom present with multiple and unique challenges. Each chapter in this book is written to guide practitioners, clinicians, therapists, and related professionals in their daily work with young children and their families. It addresses everyday challenges, including creating routines for parents of infants and toddlers, teaching parents how to play with their children and respond to problem behaviors, and managing caregiver stress. Promoting Positive Behavioral Outcomes for Infants and Toddlers is an essential resource for scientist-practitioners/professionals and clinicians as well as researchers and graduate students in child and school psychology; educational psychology; behavioral therapy; infancy and early childhood development; speech pathology, and occupational therapy.
Kathleen Hague Armstrong, Ph.D., is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, Past President of the Florida Association for Infant Mental Health, and current President of the Rotary Club of Temple Terrace. She is the Director of Pediatric Psychology at USF College of Medicine, with expertise in the care for children with developmental disabilities and behavioral health disorders. Dr. Armstrong prepares graduate and medical students and residents to provide integrated care within the pediatric medical home. In addition to her busy clinical and teaching schedule, Dr. Armstrong is an author and researcher. Among her articles and books, Helping Our Toddlers, Developing Our Children’s Skills (HOT DOCS) and Evidence-Based Interventions for Children with Challenging Behavior stand out as contributions to improving children’s outcomes. Dr. Armstrong’s research has been supported by federal, state, and foundation grants. She hasbeen honored by her profession as Florida’s School Psychologist of the Year and by her community as a finalist for the Medical Hero award.
Heather Agazzi, Ph.D., is a pediatric school psychologist and Associate Professor in the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. Dr. Agazzi has an active clinical practice at USF, in which she takes care of children from infancy through the teenage years and their families and trains pediatric providers in evidence-based treatments. Her research includes the promotion of infant-caregiver attachment, behavioral parent training, and interdisciplinary consultation to enhance pediatric behavioral health services. Dr. Agazzi has authored several articles and book chapters and coauthored a treatment manual called Helping Our Toddlers, Developing Our Children’s Skills (HOT DOCS).
Emily J. Shaffer-Hudkins, Ph.D., is a pediatric school psychologist and Assistant Professor in the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. As the Assistant Clinical Director for the local Part C early intervention program, she oversees all of the developmental evaluation and early intervention/therapy services provided to the 2,000 children enrolled. Her research includes the promotion of infant-caregiver attachment, health-related quality of life issues, and the use of evidence-based practices and interdisciplinary consultation to enhance pediatric behavioral health services.
