Supporting the individual educational needs of young children helps build a strong foundation for learning that will benefit them throughout their lives. Clackamas Education Service District’s early intervention program brings specialized consultation and instruction directly to the homes of families of children who exhibit delays or disabilities. One of our early intervention home visitors, Sara Barron, has been supporting families in their homes since 2016.

Early intervention home visitors work with families to set goals, access resources in their community, and support children’s learning and development at home. After years of working with children in early childhood special education classrooms, Sara transitioned to home visiting. 

“As a home visitor, I can really focus on one family and one child at a time,” says Sara. “I feel like I’m making a difference every time I see them, and working with families over the course of years sometimes is just incredible.”

Some of the families Sara serves face significant challenges like abuse, poverty, addiction, mental illness and homelessness.

“She enters the homes of families who are struggling, and supports those families with honor and without judgment,” says EI/ECSE Program Coordinator Kimberly Long.

Sara recently worked with a mom who came to our program because she was concerned about her youngest child. The mother had been through some significant trauma and was scared to leave her apartment. After working with her for a few months, Sara was able to encourage her to venture out of her home to the community library. 

“We’ve been there a few times now, and I’ve had the opportunity to introduce her to a couple of other parents I know at the library. Watching her little guy play around with other kids is huge,” Sara shares. 

Even with her extensive background and training in working with people experiencing social emotional trauma, she admits it’s hard to see some of the situations she walks into in homes, but her families’ successes and progress inspire her.

“I received a video from a parent today showing a child reciting his ABCs for the first time,” Sara recalls with emotion. “I watched it over and over again.”