Take Note: A New Hybrid Early Intervention Program Opens

Hybrid Early Intervention

What is PBS Treasure Coast Early Intervention Program?

PBS is unique because it is a hybrid program; each of our clients receive wrap around ABA services which allows our clients to have therapy within an educational setting and in their home. This ensures continuity of services between home and the Early Intervention Program as well as generalization of skills across environments. This model also places an emphasis on parent training which is incredibly important because it allows us to empower our parents and help them reinforce all skills taught in our program. Thus, allowing for greater gains.

What does a day at the EI program look and feel like? Research indicates that children learn through play and hands-on learning. Upon arrival, our clients acclimate to their environment while engaging in independent play where we begin working on skills such as playing with toys. We then transition to social skills where clients engage together to learn how to appropriately interact with their peers. We then move to snack time where we encourage independence through getting and preparing a snack (if appropriate) and many times work on feeding therapy programs. Circle time is next where we focus on priming our clients for a pre-kindergarten or kindergarten classroom. Next we transition to a small group setting where we complete an activity based on the current theme for the week. Closing out our morning, we head to one to one where we work with our clients on goals chosen from a curricular assessment. This is individualized for every client. Then we take lunch. Our absolute favorite time is music and movement. Sometimes we create our own beat and other times we dance! We close out the last hour of our day with one to one, running any left -over goals. Upon pick up, our parents receive a detailed letter tailored to each clients Behavior Intervention Plan and programs.

What are some possible therapeutic benefits? Early intervention is key. Our program touches on so many different learning modalities like; natural environment training, contrived situations to practice a specific skill, social skills training, sensory learning, etc…The biggest benefit is the ability to create a program based specifically on each client’s needs using positive behavior support.

Who can benefit?

Since we are an early intervention program, we work with clients 18 months to 7 years of age with varying disabilities but specifically, autism. PBS works with a variety of funding sources and also accepts the Gardiner grant

The Future?

We are currently working to open additional programs in varying locations to help serve families in need. We are also working on creating parent training groups and social skills.

Anything you would like to include that I did not ask? Our EI program is modeled after a school environment with embedded transitions to help assist our clients. The curriculum is based on a different theme each week. Our staff is also another component to our EI Program, and many of them have been RBTs for years and are highly skilled in various areas of ABA. A handful are even completing their course work to become Board Certified Behavior Analysts. With an evidenced based curriculum, play based learning, social skills, and experienced staff passionate about helping children and families, the EI Program is a comprehensive program designed to help families and their children learn and grow.

For more information contact kwalker@teammpbs.com

More Early Intervention

• Early Intervention: First Steps in the Right Direction
• Are You on the Fence About Early Intervention: A Therapist’s Perspective
• Take Your First Steps With Early Steps
• Where Do I Go for Evaluations
• Miracle Babies What You Need to Know
• Autism and Early Intervention
• Early Intervention Games

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This post originally appeared on our July/August 2021 Magazine