RADFORD – The School of Teacher Education and Leadership (STEL) in Radford University’s College of Education and Human Development has received a $27,656 supplemental grant from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

The monies will be used to support the Infant & Toddler Connection Project of the New River Valley. The initial grant of $20,000 was awarded in October of 2009.

The project works with children who have developmental delays and/or disabilities from birth to their third birthday and assists in providing early intervention services in which families are involved in all aspects of decision-making with respect to family cultures and values. Services may include speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, developmental services and service coordination.  The grant notification explains “family-centered practices” as “establishing an active parent-provider partnership; considering family routines, activities and natural settings throughout the early intervention process, from child find, evaluation and assessment, and delivery of entitled services through transition.”

In addition, family-centered practices focus intervention and services on increasing a child’s participation in family and community activities and supporting a family in identifying learning opportunities and enhancing a child’s development.

RU project directors are Early Intervention Coordinator Kathy Pierson and Assistant Professor of Teacher Education Kathy Hoover. To learn more about the Infant & Toddler Connection, e-mail khpierson@radford.edu or kahoover@radford.edu.