Lessons Learned Supporting Families of Young Children with Disabilities via Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

In-person supports for parents of young children with developmental delay were closed in spring of 2020 in the United States due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When services were disrupted, our team of social workers and psychologists were working with families in the community as part of a research program promoting positive parenting, healthy family adjustment, and behavioral support to children with developmental delay. This chapter focuses on our shift from in-person, group-based parenting classes to the delivery of telehealth parenting classes for families with young children with special needs. In this chapter we outline 20 lessons learned from our experiences examining the impact of the pandemic on families’ lives and services provided to children with special needs. We discuss not only the decisions made but also the successes and failures experienced during the process of shifting our family-centered services from in-person to telehealth. This chapter outlines practical strategies for social workers and other mental health providers who offer early family-centered supports to caregivers whose young children have developmental delay and/or disabilities. Throughout the chapter, we offer concrete examples to inspire professionals during the pandemic and beyond.