Practice Guidance

This page contains guidance on a range of topics relevant to the service delivery of all ESIT direct service providers including Family Resources Coordinators, Speech Language Pathologists, Physical and Occupational Therapists, Behavior Specialists, Social Workers, Educators and more. Refer to this page for guidance on the IFSP process and other aspects of service delivery for children and families.

Providing family-centered services is at the heart of the Early Support for Infants and Toddler’s Guiding Concepts. Research demonstrates coaching to be extremely effective in increasing positive outcomes for both the child and their family. Below you will find several coaching resources, including video examples, which demonstrate various methods of coaching. These resources are available to increase your skills and confidence, but are not required as part of your training. Thank you to these external partners dedicated to family-centered coaching for making these resources available.

  • Coaching Families Modules
    These seven modules describe different components of coaching with families. Introduction to coaching, joint planning, observation, action/practice, feedback, reflection, practice activities, and resources.
  • Five Components of Coaching (handout)
    A quick reference guide describing the five components of coaching, with brief reminders of the steps a provider should consider in implementing each component. This resource can be used to prepare for a session or during a home visit as a provider is familiarizing themselves with the coaching approach.

Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center (VEIPD)

Coaching resources handouts, articles, presentations/webinars, tools and videos. Below are links to several video examples helpful for a variety of disciplines in Early Intervention.

Family Guided Routines Based Intervention

Family Guided Routines Based Intervention (FGRBI) and Caregiver Coaching promotes the ability of early intervention providers to coach caregivers to engage their young children in learning as they participate in everyday routines and activities that are meaningful to them. This site includes resources and video examples.

Foundations of Coaching in Early Childhood: Partnering with Parents and Professionals 

Video training resource for early childhood coaches, based on the 5 key characteristics of coaching as outlined by Dathan Rush and M'Lisa Shelden. These characteristics can be applied to a number of early childhood settings.