Early intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina- a description of a model implemented in Zenica-Doboj Canton

Normal 0 false false false BS-LATN-BA X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} Early intervention (EI) is widely recognized system of providing supports to children aged 0-5 years of age. Current evidence suggests that EI is the most efficacious method for reducing and potentially eliminating the symptoms of developmental disabilities. It is also widely used with children at risk or with children who already have some developmental delay. Unfortunately, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) does not have a well-developed system of EI. The goal of this paper is to describe the current trends in the field of EI in BIH and to describe one model of EI provision that is implemented in Zenica-Doboj Canton. There is a strong interest in creating the efficient system of early intervention in BIH. The different ideas about EI are coming from different stakeholders in the field, from Nongovernmental Organizations, UNICEF, local ministries of health, social welfare and education to the educational institutions providing services and supports to children with disabilities and their families. BIH needs to expand the system of EI and to improve the educational and rehabilitation opportunities for children with developmental disabilities. Centers, as the one described in this paper, need to be established across BIH.