BackgroundInsight into family empowerment is important in order to develop and offer services that support and strengthen parents caring for a child with disability. The aims of this study were to describe empowerment trajectories among parents caring for a young child with cerebral palsy (CP) and to explore associations between parental empowerment and characteristics of the child and family and the services they receive.Methods58 children (median age at first assessment 28 months, range 12–57) and their parents were included in a longitudinal cohort study based on registry data from follow‐up programmes for children with CP in Norway. Parental empowerment trajectories were described by averaging scores in the three subscales of the Family Empowerment Scale (FES; family, service situations, and community) at enrollment and at semiannual/annual assessments. A linear mixed model was used to explore associations.ResultsParental empowerment scores on the FES in family and service situations were high and stable during early childhood, although considerably lower in the community context. In service situations, perceived empowerment was significantly associated with both child, family, and service characteristics, whereas empowerment in family situations was only associated with family characteristics. The service factor having a multidisciplinary support team was positively associated with perceived empowerment in both service situations and in the community.ConclusionKnowledge about parental empowerment in different contexts and associations with characteristics of the child and family and the services they receive can contribute to further reinforcing family empowerment and identifying parents in need of additional support.

Background Motor milestones in infancy are important developmental markers, not only for later motor skills but also for more widespread social, cognitive, and communication development. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationships between fine and gross motor development in infants at 6 and 12 months of age and communication skills at 24 months of age. Methods The Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ‐II) was used to measure gross motor, fine motor, and communication skills in a large population‐based sample of 1,555 infants, recruited from well‐baby clinics in five municipalities in South‐Eastern Norway. Of these, 557 children had valid values of gross and fine motor scores at 6 and 12 months and for communication score at 24 months. The relationships between motor skills at 6 and 12 months and communication skills at 24 months were analysed using a linear regression analysis. Results Gross motor skills at 6 months were positively associated with communication skills at 24 months (coefficients 0.09, p = 0.036) and fine motor skills at 12 months were positively associated with communication skills at 24 months (coefficient 0.23, p < 0.001). We did not find clear evidence for a relationship between gross motor skills at 12 months and communication skills at 24 months (coefficient 0.05, p = 0.126) or between fine motor skills at 6 months and communication skills at 24 months (coefficient 0.08, p = 0.098). Conclusion The present study supports previous research showing associations between early motor development and later communication development in infancy. Targeted intervention should be considered with at‐risk infants.

Østensjø (2021): Exploring participation in family and recreational activities among children with cerebral palsy during early childhood: how does it relate to motor function and parental empowerment?, Disability and Rehabilitation,

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common childhood disorders requiring comprehensive and coordinated care over time. This study aimed to add knowledge about health, educational and social services received by children and families throughout early childhood, with special attention on coordination services provided. Methods: The study was designed as a prospective longitudinal cohort study utilising data from two CP registers in Norway. Fiftyseven families with children with CP aged 12-57 months with different levels of mobility limitations classified according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System were included. Services were mapped via the parent-reported Habilitation Service questionnaire at least three times. The relationships between mobility limitations and the number of services and type of coordination services were explored using a linear mixed model and Chi Square/Fischer's exact test. Continuity in the provision of services was explored by identifying interruptions in the longitudinal reports on services received. Results: Most of the families received both health, education and social services as well as some types of coordination services. The number and type of services received varied to some extent depending on the children's mobility limitations. Multidisciplinary team and an individual service plan were widespread coordination services, while having a service coordinator was most common among the families raising a child with severe mobility limitations. Interruptions in the longitudinal reporting of services were frequent, especially in the receiving of coordination services. Conclusion:The comprehensiveness of the provided services emphasises the need for coordination services. The relatively low proportion of families provided with a coordinator and the frequent interruptions in the longitudinal reports on services indicate some persistent challenges in the service system.

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