Early intervention specialized services: eligibility and multiprofessional work

ABSTRACT Objective: to characterize the early intervention services offered by the Association of Parents and Friends of People with Intellectual Disability (APAE, its Portuguese acronym) in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Methods: out of the 56 institutions considered, 33 confirmed the existence of early Intervention services and received, via e-mail, a protocol for the characterization of services. Ten of these protocols were answered by the person responsible for the institution. The data were charted and analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and cartographic representation of Mato Grosso do Sul. Results: the studied institutions are present in much of the territorial extension of the state. However, a large central area, with relevant population density, still lacks coverage. The most frequently used term to characterize the service was “early stimulation”. As their target public, the institutions prioritize syndromic, malformed and premature babies, as well as those at social risk, in the age range zero to three years (60%), who are referred by the health services and undergo screening. All institutions have a multi-professional team, with at least four different professionals, in inter- or transdisciplinary practice; their intervention plan is elaborated with and for the family. Conclusion: considering the importance of early intervention along with the families, it is important to highlight the urgency of continuing education with the region's institutions for the services to be offered.