A Model for Family-Centered Interdisciplinary Practice in the Community

The Vermont Interdisciplinary Leadership Education for Health Professionals (VT-ILEHP) Program has developed a family-centered, interdisciplinary, community-based assessment and consultation process to serve children with special needs and their families. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists are part of VT-ILEHP's interdisciplinary team that includes 11 disciplines. This article explores three specific aspects of the community-based assessment and consultation process: (1) the intake process; (2) assessment in the community; and (3) dissemination of information through an interdisciplinary report, follow-up meeting in the community and resource notebook. These aspects of the program demonstrate the application of family-centered and interdisciplinary principles. The focus for training service providers and providing service delivery emphasizes interprofessional collaboration and practice. Implications are provided for the future preparation of SLPs and audiologists, at both a graduate and postgraduate level, who will be serving children with complex health needs and their families.