“Like Trying to Catch Ping Pong Balls in a Wind Tunnel” Workload Factors in Early Intervention Service Coordination

The roles and responsibilities of early intervention service coordinators are complex and require them to manage multiple workload factors. This study examined the current status of seven workload factors outlined in the joint position statement, Service Coordination in Early Intervention (Division for Early Childhood and IDEA Infant Toddler Coordinators Association, 2020). Findings from a national survey and focus groups indicate that a collection of interrelated factors impact service coordinators’ workload, how they coordinate services, and their confidence with completing their work. Most participants reported using a dedicated model, serving families with medium levels of need, and feeling supported by supervisors. Service coordinators felt that workload intensity, including serving high number of families and completing significant documentation requirements, interfered with their abilities to provide high-quality service coordination and engage families. Focus group participants agreed that ideal caseload numbers would be between 40 and 50 families per service coordinator, yet only few participants were actually serving number of families in this range. Participants perceived that they were engaged with families; but the more families they served, the less engaged they felt. Level of engagement and confidence were also both significantly related to levels of family need. Implications for research and practice are discussed.