Family outcomes of the novel ECHO framework implemented in Singapore’s early intervention programme

About 200 million children in the world live with disability. Good quality early intervention (EI) improves the trajectory for developing life capabilities towards better adult outcomes for these children.1-2 High quality EI is a priority among nations. In Singapore, developmental and behavioural disabilities increased by nearly 5 folds between 2004 and 2019.3-4 With increasing public expenditure on EI services, outcome-based reporting is paramount to improve public accountability, service and policy development.5 Hence, the national Enabling Masterplan for disability development in 2012 to 2016 recommended the development and implementation of a common child and family outcomes measurement system for EI.6 In Singapore, EI services are structured along a continuum of support needs, ranging from Learning Support and Development Support programmes for children with lower support needs, to inclusive preschools for those with moderate needs, and Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) for children requiring moderate-to-intensive support.3 The Early Childhood Holistic Outcome (ECHO) project piloted a common child and family outcomes measurement system and an EI service framework for EIPIC in 2014 to 2018. This article reports the outcomes of families enrolled in Project ECHO from January 2016 to December 2017. To our knowledge, this is the first study in Singapore that demonstrates the effectiveness of EIPIC in improving family outcomes.