The Pyramid Model is a framework of evidence-based practices for promoting young children’s healthy social and emotional development.
The Pyramid Model works in conjunction with the program’s curriculum, but is not a curriculum itself.
The Pyramid Model provides guidance for:
early childhood special education personnel
early intervention personnel
early educators
families
Tier 3: Tertiary Intervention:
Intervention which is comprised of practices related to individualized intensive interventions. The tertiary level of the Pyramid Model describes the need to provide individualized and intensive interventions to the very small number of children with persistent challenges.
Individualized Intensive Interventions
Family-centered, comprehensive interventions
Assessment-based
Skill-building
Tier 2:Secondary Prevention:
Prevention which represents practices that are targeted social emotional strategies to prevent problems. The prevention level includes the provision of targeted supports to children at risk of challenging behavior.
Targeted Social Emotional Supports
Explicit instruction and support
Self-regulation, expressing and understanding emotions, developing social relationships and problem-solving
Tier 1: Universal Supports:
Universal supports for all children through nurturing and responsive relationships and high quality environments. At the universal level we include the practices needed to ensure the promotion of the social development of all children.
High Quality Environments
Inclusive early care and education environments
Supportive home environments
Nurturing and Responsive Relationships
Essential to healthy social development
Includes relationships with children, families and team members
Supporting the Pyramid Model:
The model is supported at the foundation by an effective workforce.
The foundation for all of the practices in the Pyramid Model are the systems and policies necessary to ensure a workforce able to adopt and sustain these evidence-based practices.