Background
- Children's Friend and Service RI is an agency based out of Central Falls and Providence Rhode Island. It is a non-profit organization that provides Rhode Island's most vulnerable and at risk children and their families with services to help them overcome the unfortunate obstacles that have been presented before them. The mission of CFSRI is:
"Children’s Friend is the innovative leader in improving the well-being and healthy development of
Rhode Island’s most vulnerable young children. We accomplish this by providing flexible,
effective, and culturally-relevant services, and advocating for programs and policies that support
and strengthen these children and their families."
- This internship was recommended to me from Rosie Malaghan, my internship advisor, after I completed my last internship. She thought it would be a great working environment for me. I pursued the contacts that Rosie gave me and had phone as well as in-person interviews. I interviewed with the Early Intervention Director, Natalie Redfern, and the Speech Therapist, Joy Munson. I interned at Children’s Friend in the fall of 2011 doing Early Intervention Speech Therapy and was asked to continue in the Spring of 2012. Internship duties include: planning and carrying out in-home early intervention speech therapy sessions, which are family-centered, as well as planning and orchestrating group therapy for 2-3 year olds and their parents, understanding and performing speech evaluations and corresponding paperwork. Office duties include client management and case filing and review.
1) Objective: Understand and Evaluate an early intervention client (ages 0-3) who receives speech and language therapy services using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning Assessment.
Activities and Resources
- Research will be carried out through direct observation of the evaluation being performed on multiple clients and through direction and assistance from the internship supervisor.
- Use examiners manual as a guide on how evaluation should be administered, in what atmosphere, and how to record results.
- Resources include (but are not limited to):
- My supervisor, Joy Munson
- The Mullen Scales of Early Learning Assessment and Assessment Guide/Manual
- The accompanying kit of materials needed to administer the evaluation
- Online resources, such as the Mullen Assessment website.
Evidence:
- Gather all information I used for learning the assessment to include in my portfolio.
- An overview of the assessment, accompanying kit, and materials as well as how it will be performed/was performed.
- A completed Mullen assessment of an anonymous early intervention client.
2.) Objective: Observe and play an active role in the development of an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) for an early intervention client and their family, based on their individual needs and required services.
Activities and Resources
- Research will be carried out through direct observation of the IFSP planning process, which includes meeting, evaluating, and developing a plan through the “Intake” procedures. Direct observation of the procedures will be from the internship supervisor.
- Resources include (but are not limited to):
- My supervisor, Joy Munson
- The case manager and all other team members involved in the IFSP process
- An IFSP outline.
Evidence:
- An overview of the IFSP and the proceedings leading up to it,
- An IFSP for a client and family I have developed under the supervision of all team members.
3.) Objective: Plan a session and develop materials to be used in Early Intervention in-home therapy.
Activities and Resources
- Research will be carried out through direct observation of multiple therapy sessions in which I have been involved in, as well as coordination with my supervisor, Joy Munson.
- Resources include (but are not limited to):
- My supervisor, Joy Munson and her knowledge of the clients and their needs/abilities,
- Client files that display past and present therapy session information that has been used with the client
- Any/all other materials that will be used in conducting a therapy session.
Evidence
- An overview of the therapy session and accompanying materials that I have planned and produced
- An overview of how the session was conducted
- Client’s response to each activity.
