1. What is Portage
Portage is a programme that originated in the United States and is now widely implemented worldwide. According to this programme, interventions take place in the child’s home and involve close collaboration between parents and Portage practitioners, aiming to both prevent and manage difficulties a child may present.
Portage practitioners work closely with parents to develop a holistic management profile tailored to each child’s individual challenges. For this reason, an initial assessment of the child’s profile will be conducted, based on which the planning process will follow and the intervention goals for each child will be defined individually.
2. Core Principles of Portage
Portage is a programme that celebrates diversity. Its core principles focus on generalising skills and facilitating the child’s development, with the primary goal of improving the child’s overall functioning.
Parents are considered key partners in the programme and therefore participate actively under the guidance of the Portage practitioners involved. Through the Portage programme, parents are empowered to support their child’s development through everyday activities and play. These activities do not, under any circumstances, replace a child’s therapeutic interventions.
3. Target Group
The programme is addressed to families with children aged from six months up to six years who present challenges in their developmental milestones, with a deviation of at least six months between their chronological and developmental age.
These children should not have easy access to interventions, either due to their place of residence or due to difficulties in parental transportation.
Applications for participation in the programme are submitted to the Pancyprian Association of Rare Genetic Diseases “Unique Smiles” and may be submitted by:
- Parents
- Professionals working with the child and family, such as paediatricians, paediatric neurologists, child psychiatrists, geneticists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, special educators, physiotherapists, and other related professionals.
Form 1 must be completed either by the parents or by the referring professionals for the child’s inclusion in the Portage programme.
The assessment process will take place in the child’s home, unless the complexity of the case requires the use of specialised equipment available at the Multidisciplinary Assessment and Intervention Centre “Unique Smiles”.
Initially, the parents will complete a detailed case history (Form 2). Subsequently, Portage practitioners will be assigned to conduct the assessment and complete Form 3.
Upon completion of the assessment, written conclusions will be provided to the parents in a report. Additionally, the parents’ readiness, availability, and willingness to participate in such a programme will be assessed. If these conditions cannot be ensured, participation in the programme will not be possible.
To proceed with the assessment, parents must complete and sign Form 4, which concerns acceptance of the programme’s terms.
Following the completion of the assessment, an Individual Intervention Plan will be developed, and parents will be informed of the programme goals.
The intervention will take place in the child’s home, and at least one parent must be present so that the Portage practitioner(s) can guide and support them. Meeting dates will be scheduled in advance to allow parents to coordinate their schedules. If another caregiver (e.g. a grandparent) is directly involved in the child’s upbringing, this will be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
The frequency of sessions is agreed upon between the service provider and the parents. Each session lasts 45 minutes.
Portage practitioners inform parents about long-term and specific goals and discuss practical ways to implement them. Any required equipment will be discussed between the practitioners and the parents.
After each session, Portage practitioners must briefly document the session goals, activities, and any other important information on a designated form (Form 5).
If practitioners determine that specific equipment should be loaned to a family for a defined period, this will occur after the parents complete the relevant form (Form 7).
If a child requires intervention in a space with specialised equipment, sessions will be organised either at the Multidisciplinary Assessment and Intervention Centre “Unique Smiles” or at another mutually agreed location.
If the child is also supported by other professionals, multidisciplinary meetings involving all professionals and parents will be recommended.
It is recommended that both parents attend the sessions whenever possible. If this is not feasible, at least one parent must be present.
Under the guidance of Portage practitioners, parents must implement the assigned activities and complete the provided goal-evaluation forms. Upon signing the consent form for audiovisual materials, parents may send relevant videos of their child’s activities to the professionals.
Additionally, quarterly, parents must complete a service evaluation form (Form 6), where they may also record suggestions for improvement. These forms are submitted to the Portage programme’s administration and forwarded to the Scientific Supervisor.
In cases of illness of the child or parent, parents must immediately inform the Portage practitioners to cancel the session. Accepted cancellations apply only to serious health issues or very serious personal reasons.
If parents wish to terminate the service, they must notify the Scientific Supervisor in writing so that the appropriate procedures can be followed.
Portage practitioners involved in the programme must hold coordination meetings every fifteen days initially and thereafter once a month.
They must also submit the completed relevant form (Form 5) to the Scientific Supervisor to monitor each child’s progress. Additionally, practitioners must inform the Scientific Supervisor of any further assessments required so that the necessary actions can be taken.
Termination of participation in the Portage programme may be requested by the parents or initiated by the professionals. In such cases, the relevant form (Form 8), stating the reasons for termination, must be completed and submitted to the Scientific Supervisor.
- Form 1 – Application for inclusion in the Portage programme
- Form 2 – Case history for children participating in the Portage programme
- Form 3 – Child assessment
- Form 4 – Written parental consent for participation in the Portage programme
- Form 5 – Planning and session notes form
- Form 6 – Programme evaluation form completed by parents/guardians
- Form 7 – Equipment loan form
- Form 8 – Programme termination form
