A Intervenção Precoce na Infância pelo Olhar dos Profissionais.

Abstract

Sixteen years after the enactment of Decree-Law No. 281/2009, which established the National System of Early Childhood Intervention (SNIPI), it is pertinent to understand how professionals from Local Early Intervention Teams (ELI) in the Northern Region of Portugal perceive and implement best practices in Early Childhood Intervention (ECI), with particular emphasis on the family-centered approach and the transdisciplinary team model. This study, based on a mixed-methods approach, involved the completion of a sociodemographic questionnaire and two versions of the Family-Focused Intervention Scale (Pimentel, 2003) by 56 professionals from various areas of specialization, working in several Local Early Intervention Teams across the Northern Region. Additionally, three focus groups were conducted, involving the participation of 10 professionals. The results indicate that, regarding the frequency of implementation, professionals tend to adopt child-centered practices more often. Concerning perceived importance, these practices are also rated more highly than family-centered ones. The qualitative analysis revealed that professionals recognize and apply both the family-centered and transdisciplinary models in their practice, highlighting their positive impact on the quality of intervention. Nevertheless, several challenges and difficulties in operationalizing these models were identified. This study contributes to the ongoing reflection on ECI practices and offers recommendations to improve the services provided within the SNIPI framework, based on the perspectives of those working directly in the field: the professionals.