Family Diversity and Patterns of Service Utilization in Early Intervention

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Abstract
This study reports the results of face-to-face interviews with 536 families receiving early intervention. The purpose of the study was to describe the nature of early intervention services received and to investigate differences in the type of services based on family ethnicity, income, and the age of the child. The findings identified significant barriers to early intervention service utilization for American Indian families, low-Income families without medical assistance, and children under 18 months of age. Additional factors influencing the service utilization pattern, including parental and professional preference and service availability, are discussed.