Family Assessment: Parent and Professional Evaluation

As states and individual programs strive to meet the mandates of P.L. 99--457, the experiences of those who have already been involved in the family assessment process are likely to be useful. This article draws on the experience of a model demonstration project, Delaware FIRST, which utilized family assessment for overall project evaluation and program planning for parents and professionals. The instrument selection process, description of tools selected, administration procedure, families' reactions to the process, and usefulness of these assessments in overall project evaluation are summarized. The article concludes with recommendations based on Delaware FIRST's transition from a model demonstration project to a service delivery system.