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Unit 1: Service Coordination Overview

Application Station: Checking Your Skills

Service Coordination – Reflecting on Your Role/Self-Assessment (from Pathways Trail Mix)

Print this sheet and take a few minutes to write down your responses to the following questions. Use this worksheet to celebrate your success as a service coordinator and to reflect on the challenges of the job. This information can assist you in tailoring your learning and thinking about strategies that might help you develop strengths in the areas you find challenging.

  1. Which of the seven functions of service coordination in early intervention do you feel most comfortable with? Which areas do you need more information or support around? How will you get this support?
  1. How do you (will you) best empower parents to feel confident in their role as the first and ongoing coordinator of services and supports for their child and family? Are there things you will or will not say/do in order to accomplish this?
  1.  What information within the Birth to 3 Guiding Principles is new for you? What questions do you still have? Have a conversation with your supervisor about these questions.
  1. Where does service coordination become challenging for you? What do you NOT like about the job? What can you influence or change about your job to obtain more of what you do like or enjoy? Problem-solve with a colleague around this issue.
  1. What do you like or find most rewarding about service coordination? These are your strengths from which to build your skills.
  1. Complete the Self-Assessment of Skills and Knowledge in Early Intervention Service Coordination - (HTML version) (optional). Refer to the learning guide - (HTML version) and use this sample to create a Professional Development Plan - (HTML version) based upon your areas of need. This self-assessment checklist may help you answer the questions in #7 below.
  1. What are the specific next steps you will take to enhance your effectiveness as a service coordinator? (Things to think about: shadowing, mentoring, networking with others, professional development, establishing guidelines, negotiations, supervision.)

7.a. Who can help you?

7.b. What are your timelines?

NOTE: This would be a good time to sit down with your supervisor or mentor to discuss what you have read and address any questions you may have. Use your Browser’s back button to return to the table of contents or move directly on to Unit 2.

 These modules were developed from a combination of materials, including:

  1. Pathways Service Coordination Project, Waisman Center-University of Wisconsin-Madison, funded by a number of grants from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. These materials were developed and field tested for several years within Wisconsin and several other states throughout the nation, leading to these publications: Pathways Trail Mix: A Collection of Ideas and Training Activities in Early Intervention Service Coordination (1999); Pathways in Early Intervention Service Coordination: A Video & Companion Guide (1996); and Pathways: A Training and Resource Guide for Enhancing Skills in Early Intervention Service Coordination (1996)
  2. Wisconsin Personnel Development Project/Birth to 3 RESource Training materials posted on the Birth to 3 Training and Technical Assistance Website
  3. Portage Project, CESA 5 Training Materials
  4. Materials and forms created by Wisconsin County Birth to 3 Programs
  5. Resources available on the Internet that have been developed by other programs throughout the country.