Date Approved

9-30-2024

Embargo Period

9-30-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Department

Clinical Psychology

College

College of Science & Mathematics

Advisor

Roberta Dihoff, Ph.D.

Committee Member 1

Wendy Aita, Ph.D.

Committee Member 2

Steven Brunwasser, Ph.D.

Committee Member 3

Georita M. Frierson, Ph.D.

Committee Member 4

Christina Simmons, Ph.D.

Subject(s)

Child development; Human services

Disciplines

Child Psychology | Family Medicine | Public Health | Social Work

Abstract

Early Intervention Programs (EI) are an established method of addressing and treating earlier childhood developmental problems that involves a system of complex processes which families must navigate to secure and maintain care. Extensive wait times and multiple service providers burdensome caregivers which may impact treatment engagement. Telehealth offers some clinical utility for improving EI service provision. However, little is known how system contextual factors predict a child’s Part B Eligibility and level of engagement with treatment. The primary aim of this study is to describe the effect that wait time, number of service providers, number of treatment services, and treatment modality on treatment engagement and clinical outcomes. The present study examined archival, program records from a participating Early Intervention Program (EIP). A total of 409 child EIP records were reviewed, treatment data were coded and analyzed. Multivariate regression analyses revealed significant predictive relationships between study variables on Part B Eligibility and treatment attendance. Clinical implications provide preliminary evidence regarding service provision of a NJEIS program to improve service wait time, number of recommended services, and telehealth options. Public health implications also offer valuable insight for understanding how EI healthcare system contextual factors influence of care utilization of families in NJ.

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