Learn More About Supporting Transitions Through Collaborations

Support Transitions Through Collaborations

The transition from Early Steps to preschool or other services might be an exciting time for families looking forward to new opportunities for their child. It might also be a time of uncertainty for families who are unsure about the next steps for supporting their child or nervous about a change in their services. Recommended practices in transition (Division for Early Childhood, 2014; Rous et al., 2020) provide guidance about strategies Early Steps teams can use to support families and children as they transition: 

1. Collaborate with the family and community transition partners to: 

   • Exchange information with families about the transition process and address questions or concerns they might have. This Transition for Families Booklet can help guide your conversations. 

   • Gather information from families about their priorities and preferences before, during, and after their transition. 

   • Discuss various educational and support options with families.  

   • Encourage families to visit the program they choose with their child and offer to join the family on their visit. 

2. Support Child Skills After Transition  

   • Facilitate individual or small group time for the child to visit new programs, interact with new individuals who will be providing services or supports, and practice new routines. 

   • Encourage new teachers or caregivers to visit the child in their home. 

   • Support the family to continue to help the child build skills needed during familiar or new routines. ​

3. Encourage Communication and Collaborative Partnerships 

   • Encourage families to communicate their priorities for their child. 

   • With the family's permission, communicate and share information between programs or individuals who will be providing services or supports, including information about the child's current skills and participation in daily routines. 

   • Establish a plan with the staff at the child's new setting to support the child's initial transition. 

   • Establish a plan for ongoing communication and strategies to support the family’s and child’s transition from Early Steps. 

4. Facilitate Interagency Collaboration 

   • Participate in joint professional development and partnership opportunities with other programs.  

   • Ensure ongoing and regular communication with individuals who will provide or coordinate services and supports for the family and child before, during, and after transition. 

For more information about interagency collaboration, click here.