Abstract:
Research points out the benefits of the Family-Centered Early Intervention practice, which proposes that it is essential to offer support to the needs of family members. This paper aims to analyze the helpgiving practices offered to family members in three public centers of early intervention, located in Baixada Santista-SP, Brazil. The study was conducted with nine relatives of children aged zero to three years, with delayed neuropsychomotor development and other diagnoses, and with 15 professionals. Semi-structured interviews were conducted through two scripts, one for family members and one for professionals. The data were analyzed from the perspective of content analysis, in the thematic analysis modality. As a result, it was possible to identify more relational than participatory helpgiving practices; however, both were little identified in the participants' statements. In addition, the support offered by the service is more focused on the needs of children, and only in some cases it is directed to the needs of family members. This paper aims to emphasize the importance of providing support to the needs of family members in early childhood intervention services through helpgiving practices.