Implementing the Child Outcomes Summary Process:

Challenges, strategies, and benefits

July, 2011

Purpose

• This session outlines essential knowledge needed to effectively implement the Child Outcomes Summary Form (COSF) process.

• Participants will identify challenges, strategies, and resources needed to address those challenges

• Participants will discuss benefits of an effective COSF process

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Essential knowledge for an effective Child Outcomes Summary Form (COSF) process• Assessment • Working as a team• Functional outcomes• Age-expected child development• Involving families

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Essential knowledge: Assessment

• Gathering assessment data to reflect functioning across settings and situations, especially gathering information on child functioning from families

• Understanding the content of the three child outcomes and how to use the rating scale

• Understanding the results of assessment data gathered by others

• Sharing assessment results sensitively and honestly with families

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Essential knowledge: Working as a team

• Effective communication among professionals from different disciplines working together as a team

• Defining the role(s) of team members in the COSF process

• Handling differences in opinion about the rating

• Utilizing the skills and strengths of individuals and multiple disciplines in the process

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Essential knowledge: Functional outcomes

• The meaning of “functional” outcomes: that they are meant to reflect the child’s ability to integrate skills across domains in order to get along with others, learn, and get their needs met.

• How to use outcome information organized around domains

• The difference between the broad outcomes we measure for accountability and the individual outcomes/goals we write for IFSPs and IEPs.

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Essential knowledge: Age-expected child development• The functional expectations for children at

different ages with regard to each of the three outcomes

• The extent to which a child shows age-appropriate functioning, across a variety of settings and situations, in each outcome area

• Understanding age expectations for child functioning within the child’s culture

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Essential knowledge: Involving families

• Communicating with families about the child’s functioning at home and with family

• Talking with families about assessment results in ways that are

- Sensitive- Accurate- Meaningful

• Communication skills for working with diverse types of families, of differing economic status, language, culture, family composition, etc.

Benefits of the COSF Process

What do you see as some benefits in using the COSF process?

– For children?– For families?– For providers and staff?– For the program or district? – For the state?

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Multiple skills, multiple challenges

Use the implementation worksheet to discuss the process in small groups: COSF Implementation Issues worksheetWhat challenges are you facing in implementing the COSF process?What strategies might help address the challenges you discussed?

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Discussion: Challenges and Strategies

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Follow up: Implementation issues for your programTraining materials are available on the

ECO website: COSF Training materials and ActivitiesState-Developed Training Materials

Email us at: staff@the-eco-center.orgVisit us online at: www.the-eco-

center.org

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