Families, Infants, And Young Children At Risk: Pathways To Best Practice

Families, Infants, and Young Children at Risk: Pathways to Best Practice

The clearest, most comprehensive text available on the neurological and psycho-social development of children from birth to 8, this cutting-edge book will be the cornerstone of every early interventionist's education. Essential for preservice professionals across multiple disciplines-and for inservice practitioners in search of a reference they can trust- this textbook helps readers fully understand child development, address the complex needs of children with disabilities and their families, and skillfully connect the latest clinical knowledge with everyday practice.Illustrated with dozens of engaging and instructive photos, this text helps future professionals in education, medicine, and related clinical fields meet state requirements for training in early childhood special education with complete coverage of the birth-8 period understand the full range of issues-medical, psychosocial, cultural, developmental, and educational-affecting child development ensure strong partnerships with professionals and families by learning about other disciplines and understanding the challenges parents face address social-emotional factors at every stage of a child's early development discover how clinical issues affect children in educational settings after the critical transition to school develop sensitivity to diverse family needs through eye-opening vignettes and child-family studiesWith this accessible core textbook and professional reference, early interventionists will be ready to work effectively with children who have or are at risk for developmental delays-and pool their knowledge and resources with professionals across disciplines to ensure the best outcomes for children and families.Review"I have not come across another book that covers this wide range of issues in child development ... the authors have done a wonderful job of providing current information in a simple, informative fashion."About the AuthorIn addition to her work as Professor of Education, Dr. Ensher is Coordinator of two master's degree programs in the School of Education at Syracuse University: Early Childhood Special Education and the Inclusive Program on Severe Disabilities. She received her doctorate in special education from Boston University in 1971. Prior to receiving her doctoral degree, she taught for 3 years in Hanover, New Hampshire, and Quincy, Massachusetts. She later assumed a position on the faculty at the Pennsylvania State University in State College prior to taking a position on the faculty at Syracuse University.For many years, Dr. Ensher has been actively involved in teaching, writing and research, and community service related to families and young children who are at risk and have developmental disabilities. At Syracuse University, she teaches courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels about methods and curriculum in early childhood special education, families of young children with special needs, the assessment of infants and young children, and the theoretical foundations of early childhood special education. She has extensive experience in clinical work with infants, young children, and their families and continues to train graduate students in this area of expertise. She has authored play-based assessments for infants and toddlers, most recently Partners in Play: Assessing Infants and Toddlers in Natural Contexts (Thomson/Delmar Learning, 2007). In addition, Dr. Ensher co-authored with Dr. David Clark the first and second editions of Newborns at Risk: Medical Care and Psychoeducational Intervention (Aspen Publishers, 1986, 1994).Dr. Ensher is a single mother of two daughters adopted from Calcutta, India-Kimberly and Lindsey.Dr. Clark is a pediatrician and neonatologist who trained at North Carolina Memorial Hospital, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and completed a Neonatology Fellowship at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, an