INNOVATIVE PRACTICES Project BLEND: An inclusive model of early intervention services

The purpose of this article is to describe Project BLEND, a model demonstration project that provided inclusive early intervention services to young children with developmental delays and their families. Whereas the initial focus of Project BLEND was to provide inclusive services to young children with developmental delays, collaborative partnerships among significant adults became the underlying foundation that influenced the development and implementation of the model. The conceptual framework for the project ii-described in terms of 3 interrelated components service coordination, family-child care-early intervention partnerships, and transition services. Challenges encountered while we implemented the model and strategies to address chafe challenges are also presented with initial evaluation informa.