How is a Team-Based Primary Service Provider Approach Implemented?
The team-based Primary Service Provider approach focuses on collaborative consultation and coaching of families and caregivers as the primary intervention strategy to implement jointly-developed, functional IFSP outcomes in natural environments with ongoing coaching and support from other team members. Successful implementation of this approach requires the commitment of all team members to build collaborative relationships and cohesion. Effective coaching includes joint planning, observation, action/practice, reflection and feedback. The team-based Primary Service Provider approach is a core tenet of the Early Steps System.

"Coaching redefines the role of an early childhood practitioner. The role of an early childhood practitioner changes from working in provider-directed sessions with a child to supporting key learners (i.e., families and caregivers) in their efforts to promote the child's participation in a variety of natural learning environments." (Coaching Families and Colleagues in Early Childhood, Barbara E. Hanft, Dathan D. Rush, and M'Lisa L. Shelden, Pg. 10)

In group care settings, the Primary Service Provider uses an individualized-within-routines approach, which involves joining the child in whatever the child is engaged in, during regular classroom routines, demonstrating for the teaching staff, and learning from the teaching staff.

Benefits of this Approach

• A team-based Primary Service Provider coaching approach has the following benefits:
• It is a method that emphasizes how children really learn,
• The Individualized Family Support Plan (IFSP) is unified around the family's and child's functional needs,
• It capitalizes on families forming close relationships with a primary service provider,
• It uses specialists as efficiently as possible,
• It eliminates the possibility of conflicting recommendations and duplication of services, and
• It uses our limited resources most effectively.