LINK Virtual Forum on Authentic Assessment for Early Childhood Intervention: Interdisciplinary & International Consensus

The LINK Virtual Forum on Authentic Assessment for Early Childhood Intervention: Interdisciplinary & International Consensus was orchestrated through a series of virtual focus-groups during the pandemic in 2021-2022. This new strategy for conducting a more robust national/international consumer social validity study gathered practice-based evidence from the field using national and international expert panel focus groups and an expert panel forum to survey Authentic Assessment experts and users. Uniquely, these deliberations relied upon the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) among participants to reach consensus decisions and Qualtrics survey results. The decision-making process addressed types of assessment measures that address early childhood intervention purposes best, but also, what specific processes and procedures best engage parents, professionals, and young children in a developmentally-appropriate and ecological assessment using best practice competencies and standards in the field to fulfill diverse ECI purposes. The central organizing feature of the Focus Groups and the Forum was the use of seven disciplinary focus groups (n=56) with membership selected by a disciplinary chairperson and the authors consisting of the following interdisciplinary professional groups: Early Childhood Educators/Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Educators; Speech/Language Specialists; Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists; Psychologists; University Faculty Representatives, and International Experts. We recruited a national and international representative sample of interdisciplinary participants (n=56) from the US, Canada, Australia, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Holland, China, Colombia, Korea, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, for two major LINK activities: (1) LINK Expert Panel Focus Groups (n=7); and (2) a cross-disciplinary LINK Expert Panel Forum. The process and outcome data on best practices in AA for ECI from the LINK Forum were based on the consensus of interdisciplinary and international experts in the ECI field. Keywords: authentic assessment; early childhood intervention; recommended practices; best practices; international; interdisciplinar

Authentic Assessment for Early Childhood Intervention: In-Vivo & Virtual Practices for Interdisciplinary Professionals

Abstract The pandemic has exposed the many glaring difficulties inherent in implementing effective assessment and intervention for young children with neurodevelopmental delays and disabilities in our respective countries, but, especially in the US. The urgency for innovative models of assessment linked to interdisciplinary services and supports in both remote and in-vivo settings became prominent. Yet, the commitment to developmentally-appropriate practice (DAP), assessment linked to intervention, is the hallmark of ECI, whether virtual or in-vivo. However, interdisciplinary professionals have rallied during these challenging times by displaying creativity, compassion, and superb clinical judgment in providing responsive services via both virtual and in-vivo platforms to families and young children with special needs in rural and urban regions. Virtual service delivery has required judicious changes in our professional practices using more responsive and less scripted postures. Our family-centered approaches enabled us to engage with parents as partners in assessment and intervention and to plan and deliver supports that were more tailored. We believe that our “lessons learned” from the pandemic about implementing authentic assessment for early childhood intervention (AA for ECI) among parents and interdisciplinary professionals will make our ongoing partnerships with families and other professionals stronger and more enduring. We hope that this article and the step-by-step model that we have offered will help you in your own professional lives to maintain the outlook that emphasizes the importance of both authentic assessment methods & processes, whether in-vivo or virtual, for undercovering each child’s hidden and true capabilities and needs and by adhering to our enduring commitment to protect children’s inherent human rights. Keywords: authentic, assessment, best practices, virtual, remote, early childhood interventio

Opening Plenary

Speaker Beth Macy discussed her bestselling book Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company that Addicted America

A META-ANALYSIS OF ORGANIZATIONAL SIZE, FORMALIZATION, AND INDIVIDUAL OUTCOMES (INTEGRATIVE THEORY, THEORY-BUILDING)

Meta-analysis was used to test a model linking organizational size, formalization and three measures of individual outcomes (satisfaction, absenteeism and turnover). The model was based upon a review of 220 articles which suggested the following propositions: (1) If size increases, then absenteeism and turnover increase but satisfaction decreases. (2) If size increases, then formalization increases. (3) If formalization increases, then absenteeism and turnover increase but satisfaction decreases. Using meta-analysis, weighted average correlations and error estimates were computed. The correlations were -.0014, .2908 and .2711 respectively for the relationships above. The confidence interval for each spanned zero indicating a lack of significance. However, the meta-analysis was pursued to determine patterns of relationships. The following percentages of variance in the relationships were accounted for by moderating variables: size/individual outcomes, 11%; size/formalization, 40%; and formalization/individual outcomes, 89%. Variance patterns for moderators were substantially different. Public accountability and unit of analysis were most important to size/individual outcomes; public accountability and variable definitions to size/formalization; and organizational level to formalization/individual outcomes. It is argued that although the weighted average correlations were problematic due to their confidence intervals, the patterns in the correlations and moderating variables are noteworthy. The meta-analysis benefit was a precise and quantified summary measure of prior empirical results produced by statistically rigorous and replicable methods. The patterns of variance associated with moderating variables were undiscernable by intuitive or nonstatistical processes. The presumed relationship between size and individual outcomes was not substantiated as were the other two relationships. Consistent with the Aston group findings (Pugh, et. al., 1968) it is suggested that contextual variables are less valuable in predicting individual outcomes than are structural variables

Influence of canine donor plasma hemostatic protein concentration on quality of cryoprecipitate

Background Cryoprecipitate (CRYO) is a plasma component containing high concentrations of factor VIII (FVIII), von Willebrand factor (VWF), and fibrinogen. Because Greyhounds are reported to have lower plasma VWF and fibrinogen concentrations, their plasma may not yield high potency CRYO. Objectives To determine if plasma hemostatic protein concentration is a good predictor of CRYO potency and if a difference exists in quality of CRYO prepared from Greyhounds versus non‐Greyhounds. Animals Twenty Greyhounds and 20 non‐Greyhounds. Methods A 450 mL unit of blood was collected from each donor, centrifuged to prepare fresh frozen plasma (FFP), and processed to CRYO. Aliquots of FFP and CRYO were analyzed for FVIII, VWF, and fibrinogen content and factor recovery. Results A positive correlation was found among donor plasma FVIII, VWF and fibrinogen concentration, and CRYO factor content (P < .001). Mean recovery was highest for VWF (67%), followed by fibrinogen (47%), and FVIII (37%). No breed difference was found in mean CRYO FVIII content, but CRYO VWF and fibrinogen were lower in Greyhounds (P = .004 and P < .001, respectively). No difference was found between Greyhounds and non‐Greyhounds for the number of CRYO units meeting human blood banking standards. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Factor concentration in FFP is associated with CRYO potency, suggesting that prescreening of blood donors may enhance CRYO quality. Despite lower VWF and fibrinogen content, CRYO prepared from Greyhounds is acceptable based on blood banking standards for humans, indicating that Greyhound FFP does not need to be excluded from CRYO production