IDEA Part C

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IDEA Part C

• Early Intervention

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Early Intervention Part C of IDEA

• Congress established Early Intervention in 1986
  in recognition of "an urgent and substantial
  need" to
• enhance the development of infants and toddlers
  with disabilities
• reduce educational costs by minimizing the need
  for special education through early intervention
  
• minimize the likelihood of institutionalization,
  and maximize independent living and,
• enhance the capacity of families to meet their
  child's needs.

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Lead Agency

• Federal Office of Special Education Programs
  (OSEP)
• NYS - Department of Health
• NYC - Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

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What is the NYC Early Intervention Program?

• The Early Intervention Program works with
  families to provide evaluation, therapeutic and
  educational services to infants and toddlers
  (from birth to three years of age) with
  developmental delays or disabilities.
• Locates, identifies, and monitors children
  at-risk of developing delays (Developmental
  Monitoring)

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Referrals

• A referral should be made when
• A child is at risk of disability or developmental
  delay
• A delay is suspected
• The child has a diagnosed condition with a high
  probability of resulting in developmental delay
  or
• The parent requests that a referral is made.
• The referral should be made via 311.

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Developmental Monitoring At Risk Children

• Monitors and provides ongoing developmental
  screenings for infants and toddlers who appear to
  be developmenting typically but are at risk of
  developmental delays due to medical, biological,
  and /or social-emotional factors

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Examples of At-Risk Criteria

• Gestational agelt33 weeks
• Birth weight lt1501 grams (3.4 lbs)
• No prenatal care
• Prenatal exposure to substances
• Venous lead level.19mcg/dl
• Homelessness
• Failed or missed hearing screening at birth
• Growth deficiency/nutritional problems
• 10 or more days in the NICU
• Parental developmental delay

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Eligibility Criteria for EI

• A child may be eligible due to
• A diagnosed medical condition with a high
  probability of developmental delay
• Developmental Delay
• Informed clinical opinion

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Eligibility Criteria (cont.)

• Has not attained expected milestones in one or
  more of the following areas
• Cognition
• Physical (including vision and hearing)
• Communication
• Social/Emotional
• Adaptive

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Developmental Delay Definition

• As measured by qualified personnel
• A twelve month delay in one functional area
• A 33 delay in one functional area or 25 in two
  or more
• 2 SD below the mean in one functional area, or
  1.5 SD in two or more
• Informed clinical opinion.

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Conditions With a High Probability of
Developmental Delay

• There is Automatic Eligibility if a child has a
  diagnosis of
• Autistic Spectrum Disorder
• Down Syndrome
• Very Low Birth weight (under 1000 gms)
• Visually impaired
• Hearing impaired
• Cleft palate
• Cerebral Palsy
• Or approximately 26 other medical conditions

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Key Features of Early Intervention

• Service Coordination
• Evaluation
• Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) must
  be written within 45 calendar days from referral
• Services in the natural environment

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Early Intervention Services

• NYC DOHMH contracts with approximately 120
  agencies to provide one or more of the following
• Service Coordination
• Evaluation
• Services

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Route Through Early Intervention

• Referral to 311 or the DOHMH office in the
  borough of residence via fax or phone call
• Assignment of Initial Service Coordinator
• Choice of Evaluation Site by parent
• If eligible, IFSP meeting, and assignment of
  On-going Service Coordinator
• 6 month review
• Annual Review
• Transition out of Early Intervention.

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What is Service Coordination?

• Helping the parent navigate the early
  intervention system by
• Assisting parent in locating an evaluation
  provider
• Informing parents of their rights and
  responsibilities
• Coordinating the performance of evaluations and
  assessments
• Facilitating and participating in the
  development, review, and evaluation of the IFSP
• Coordinating and monitoring the delivery of
  services
• Informing families about advocacy services
• Facilitating the development of a transition plan
  as needed.

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The IFSP

• IFSP Individual Family Service Plan
• It is more than a plan it is a contract linked
  to Functional Outcomes, reflecting family
  concerns, priorities and resources (CPR)
• Services are based upon child and family needs
  (related to enhancing the familys capacity to
  respond to their childs developmental needs) and
  not upon wants
• Teams make decisions, not individuals
• Includes Part C services as well as listing other
  services which are above and beyond the Part C
  obligations

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The IFSP (cont.)

• The IFSP contains a listing of services
  (frequency, intensity, location, and duration)
• The role of the Service Coordinator is to
  constantly monitor delivery of services with the
  team/family and to ensure the IFSP is implemented
  as written
• Routine monitoring, review and annual evaluations
  required

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Critical IFSP Requirements

• Must be developed within 45 days of referral
• Contents
• Statement of the childs present levels of
  development
• Family CPR (voluntary)
• Outcomes
• EI Services
• Frequency, Intensity, Location and Method
• Payment sources
• Other Services ( that are not EI)
• Dates and durations of services
• Service Coordinator
• Transition plan from Part C to other early
  childhood services
• Developed by Multidisciplinary Teams - no one
  person makes the decisions! Families are an
  integral part of this team.

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General Role of Service Providers

• To the extent appropriate, service providers are
  responsible for
• consulting with parents, other service providers,
  and representatives of appropriate community
  agencies to ensure the effective provision of
  services
• (2) training parents and others regarding the
  provisions of those services and
• (3) participating in the multidisciplinary teams
  assessment of a child and the childs family, and
  in the development of integrated goals and
  outcomes for the Individualized Family Service
  Plan.

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Services in EI

• Assistive Technology
• Audiology
• Family counseling, training and education
• Occupational therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Psychological services
• Social Work
• Special Instruction
• Speech-Language pathology
• Vision services
• Transportation services.

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Natural Environment

• To the Maximum Extent appropriate, early
  intervention services are provided in the natural
  environment

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Natural Environment Is More than a Physical
Setting

• It is the methods and approaches used to provide
  early intervention services that
• support the daily routine of the family and
  child, Routines Based Intervention (RBI)
• incorporate activities into the natural flow of
  activity and the routines of family life.

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For further information

• Bronx Regional Office- 718-410-4110
• Brooklyn Regional Office- 718-722-3310
• Manhattan Regional Office- 212-487-3920
• Queens Regional Office- 718-271-1003
• Staten Island Regional Office- 718-420-5350
• Ireti Bobb, MPA
• Director of Early Intervention Services
• 212-219-5222
• Beverly Samuels, MS Ed, SAS
• Director of Consumer Affairs
• 212 219-0392
• Or NYS Department of Health Website
• http//www.health.state.ny.us/community/infants_c
  hildren/early_intervention/