Twenty Years of Virtual Coaching: A Systematic Review of Single-Case Studies on Supporting Families in Early Childhood

Virtual coaching has become an increasingly used strategy for supporting families of young children with developmental delays and/or disabilities. Due to ongoing provider shortages and the focus on delivering early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE) services during the pandemic, a greater emphasis has been placed on using technology to support children and families who receive EI/ECSE supports. This systematic literature review examined 13 single-case design studies focused on virtual coaching families of children ages 2–5. Using a researcher-developed coding scheme and the Single Case Analysis and Review Framework (SCARF), we examined (a) coach and participant demographic characteristics, (b) use of coaching strategies, (c) descriptions about the implementation of virtual coaching practices and technology, (d) use of generalization and maintenance measures, and (e) overall quality of the study. Strengths of the articles, as well as suggestions for increased transparency in reporting studies, are provided in this review.