With what populations has the IPCI been used?

The IPCI has been used in several federally funded research studies with children between the ages of 2 and 42 months and their caregivers or familiar caregivers. We use the term “caregivers” to include figures such as biological, adoptive, and foster caregivers, as well as other familiar caregivers, such as relatives and consistent child care providers.

Families participating in studies with the IPCI were referred from a variety of agencies including urban and rural Early Head Start programs, alternative school programs for teen-aged caregivers, and inner urban WIC clinics and prenatal clinics. Families were culturally and linguistically diverse and many were experiencing multiple risks including the following:

1. Teenage caregiver status
2. Children with or at-risk for disabilities
3. Extreme poverty
4. Functional homelessness
5. Very low caregiver education level (e.g., less than a high school diploma)
6. Caregivers at risk for child maltreatment
7. Maternal depression and/or anxiety
8. Families with histories of substance disorders or domestic partner abuse
9. Children diagnosed with Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders

The IPCI has also been used with:

1. Families receiving intervention to reduce child neglect and improve parenting
2. Families receiving intervention for improving child social-communication among toddlers with autism

What are the qualifications for IPCI administration and scoring?

Any early childhood service provider may administer and score the IPCI after completing administration and scoring certification. Contact Dr. Kathleen Baggett for information about becoming IPCI certified.

How can IPCI results be used?

Reports are designed to be used in conjunction with other assessment data to guide intervention decision-making. The IPCI can be repeated as often as monthly for progress monitoring.

Caregiver Facilitator and Child Engagement domain reports can be interpreted by, and shared with, caregivers by an early childhood service provider who is certified in IPCI administration and scoring.