The Early Interventionist

Erika C. Bowen

Welcome to The Early Interventionist—the podcast built for Minnesota Part C providers, navigating the daily realities of home visiting and family collaboration. In early intervention, true growth is a shared journey. We know that building confidence, competence, and capacity isn't a one-way street—it applies equally to the caregiver sitting at the kitchen table and the provider stepping through the front door. When early interventionists feel supported, skilled, and empowered in their coaching practices, families thrive. This show creates a direct bridge between high-level research and real-world home visits by blending: Research & Reflection: Translating evidence-based coaching frameworks, adult learning principles, and routines-based intervention (RBI) into intentional, reflective practices that strengthen provider capacity. Stories from the Field: Authentic, unvarnished experiences from early interventionists in the trenches—exploring the breakthroughs, the unexpected challenges, and the honest moments that shape professional growth. Practical Professional Development: On-the-go micro-learning conversations designed to help you cultivate trust, avoid burnout, and empower caregivers to lead without carrying the weight of being the sole "expert." Whether you’re driving between visits or taking a quick breather, tune in for thoughtful, field-tested conversations that keep your work rooted in research and proven in practice.

  1. 02/12/2024

    Am I Coaching? [Part II: Observation, Discussion & Problem Solving]

    As promised here is the handout "Delayed Response" I reference in my story when I was observing an incidental caregiver/child interaction.  In this episode I go through these these reflective statements regarding Observation, Discussion and Problem Solving: *I initiate a discussion about the family's priorities, needs and plans for the visit. *I have reflective conversations to help the caregivers think through what they know, have already tried or want to change.  *I observe caregiver-child interactions and family routines and activities whenever I can. *I begin by specifically defining the problem.  *I collaborate with the caregiver to solve the problem by bouncing ideas back and forth.  *I problem-solve with the caregiver in the moment while observing a routine, activity or interaction.   *After problem solving, I let the caregiver decide which strategy to try with the child.

  2. 12/04/2023

    Am I Coaching? [Part I: Practice]

    Self Reflection: "Am I coaching," when it comes to the coaching characteristic of practice? Listen as I take on the following self reflective questions that may get you thinking on your own interactions with families and how to continue to grow. I convey the idea to the caregiver that each intervention visit is a practice session for the child and caregiver. I use modeling as a teaching tool to help the caregiver learn to use the strategy.  When I model with their child I shift the interaction back to the caregiver so the caregiver can practice and feel successful.  I help the caregiver practice during routines and activities that re natural to them and in real time.  I coach the caregiver from the sidelines and fade my support over time so they feel joy in their accomplishments that they can do this without me.  I do my best to be patient and celebrate practice whenever it happens.  All Things Early Intervention TPT store resources for anyone working in EI! Pause & Reflect by Dana Childress

  3. 11/13/2023

    Our Words Matter

    An IFSP meeting like I've never had before and will never forget.  Do you know what's been said to families before you enter their lives?  Hear what this mother was told after the diagnosis of Pader Willi Syndrome was confirmed after her son's birth.  It finally came out while discussing the goal for the IFSP.  It became very apparent that this mother did not know she could even want things for her son because of what "the doctor said." All Things Early Intervention

  4. 09/06/2023

    Building Engagement: ”The Layer Cake”

    I've been thinking a lot about families.  How to connect intervention with everyday opportunities and it all comes down to parent/child engagement.  This episode I reflect on what I am learning through Autism Navigator and what they call "the layer cake."  Building support from the bottom up.  Let's face it; if our cake isn't baked, it's going to fall - or at the very least be uneven! Autism Navigator All Things Early Intervention - parent handouts "The Layer Cake"

  5. 06/02/2023

    Preverbal Strategies

    A listener recently reached out asking me to podcast on specific strategies I use with families and on visits.  Great idea and great topic!  Hear what has worked best during visits - I share 3 very different stories of kids at the same level doing very different things.  If you are new to EI this is a must hear episode! Find Coaching Resources at:  All Things Early Intervention

  6. 04/11/2023

    Using Feedback to Empower Caregivers

    Feedback can get pretty muddy.  Listen as I reference Rush and Sheldon and put into real life context how this looks.     Handouts for Parents and EI providers

  7. 03/14/2023

    All Things Early Intervention

    It’s a follow-up on today’s episode to last week’s, “He’s not making progress.”  Hear what one listener wrote to me and about how she relates. This is a common theme among all of us in EI.  I finished and created an entire series for parents and EI providers who are coaching to help parents understand communication, the skills involved and how it ties to their ultimate goal of, “I want my child to talk.”  Without losing focus on Coaching during visits!  Today I share a story of success when I didn’t tell a parent what to do but gave her the AT her daughter needed.  With the right tool she was able to put it into practice in a way you would not expect but worked for them! Check out the entire series on my “All Things Early Intervention” storefront on Teachers Pay Teachers.   Get the, "I want my child to talk." series to help support your visits coaching families.

  8. 03/08/2023

    He’s not making progress.

    I get a call from my supervisor that the family is requesting another service provider because he’s not making progress.  We know the “what” and the “why” kids need to work on the skills they do BUT do parents understand the “what” and the “why”???  How can we help parents to understand? When parents do understand, let them figure out how they're going to do it.  Sometimes we focus so much on the “how” first without pausing (to explain, model, discuss, give feedback on) “what” and “why” and then our message gets lost on them.  Listen as I try to make sense of all of this.   Check out the resources below for parents.  Teach them the "what" and the "why" let them figure out the "how."  Stay tuned for more resources in the series "I want my child to talk." I want my child to talk. Move to Communicate

See All (40)

4.8
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Early Interventionist—the podcast built for Minnesota Part C providers, navigating the daily realities of home visiting and family collaboration. In early intervention, true growth is a shared journey. We know that building confidence, competence, and capacity isn't a one-way street—it applies equally to the caregiver sitting at the kitchen table and the provider stepping through the front door. When early interventionists feel supported, skilled, and empowered in their coaching practices, families thrive. This show creates a direct bridge between high-level research and real-world home visits by blending: Research & Reflection: Translating evidence-based coaching frameworks, adult learning principles, and routines-based intervention (RBI) into intentional, reflective practices that strengthen provider capacity. Stories from the Field: Authentic, unvarnished experiences from early interventionists in the trenches—exploring the breakthroughs, the unexpected challenges, and the honest moments that shape professional growth. Practical Professional Development: On-the-go micro-learning conversations designed to help you cultivate trust, avoid burnout, and empower caregivers to lead without carrying the weight of being the sole "expert." Whether you’re driving between visits or taking a quick breather, tune in for thoughtful, field-tested conversations that keep your work rooted in research and proven in practice.

Information

  • Creator
    Erika C. Bowen
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2024
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Erika C. Bowen 2022 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Early Interventionist