Good Goals Matter

Abstract

Functional plans in early childhood intervention need to include contextualized, meaningful, and measurable goals and include timelines and criteria for generalization. In addition, they must address children's and families' needs and priorities. The Routines-Based Interview has had a positive impact on the functionality of goals identified in the child's individualized plan. In Australia, where Noah's Ark Inc. is implementing the Routines-Based Interview and developing functional and participation-based goals, families' perceptions of child performance on functional issues and their satisfaction with the performance were measured. We analyzed (a) the functionality of goals, (b) changes in parents' perceptions of child performance and satisfaction after 6 months of intervention, and (c) the moderating effect of family goals. We found acceptable overall goal functionality, although measurement criteria are still a component that needs attention. Noteworthy changes in performance and satisfaction scores were found after the intervention, and the percentage of family goals moderated the influence of the context and meaningfulness of intervention goals on parents' perceptions of child's difference in performance. This effect was greater with more family goals on a plan.