Resources for Special Needs Kids

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Resources for Special Needs Kids

• Kathy Bohanon, MD
• CASA Advocate, Pediatrician

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Child Find?
Head Start?
Colorado Preschool Program?
Early Childhood Connections?
Part C?
Early Intervention?
Its sooooo confusing!
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First Things First The Law

• IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education
  Act Federal Law
• Part B age 3 to 21 years
• Accessed through the school systems
• Part C age birth to 36 months
• Accessed through Early Childhood Connections

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Child Find

• The process to identify infants and children who
  have disabilities
• Can be referred by anyone who suspects
  developmental delay
• Infant or childs age determines where they are
  referred
• Multidisciplinary evaluation to determine needs
  and qualification for Part B or C

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Early Childhood ConnectionsFor Infants, Toddlers
Families

• Colorados name for the program for birth to 36
  months
• Sometimes called Early Intervention
• Sometimes called Part C
• If not already evaluated or diagnosed, provides
  evaluation at no cost
• Determines if the infant/toddler is eligible for
  the public early intervention system (ie, Part C
  of IDEA)

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Early Childhood Connections

• Severe developmental delays
• Specific medical diagnoses that are associated
  with severe developmental delay
• Sensory impairment
• Low birth weight (very preemie)
• Attachment and regulatory disorders that
  interfere with development

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Early Childhood Connections

• Mandates a Service Coordinator
• Coordinates obtaining the evaluation and services
  (PT, OT, Speech, developmental services, etc)
• Provided in the childs environment (at home,
  at the babysitter, etc)
• IFSP Individual Family Services Plan

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Early Childhood Connections

• Insurance, Medicaid pay for the therapy
• Part C funds are the payer of last resort
• Will pay for developmental services that are
  needed but not otherwise paid by insurance

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Early Childhood Connections

• Required to transition children to Part B,
  usually starts 9 months before 3rd birthday
• May not meet qualifications for Part B, then
  transitioned to community resources

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Early Childhood Connections

• Referrals for El Paso and Teller counties
• The Resource Exchange
• Now combined with Resources for Young Children
  and Families
• 577-9190

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Early Childhood Connections

• What if they dont qualify for Part C but still
  with delays, at risk, etc?
• Early Head Start (birth thru age 36 months)
  through the Community Partnership for Child
  Development
• Child Development Center or Memorial Hospital
  Pediatric Rehab paid for by insurance, but
  center-based, not in the home

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Preschool age3-4 years

• Transitioned from Part C
• or
• New referral made to the appropriate school
  district
• Also will do multidisciplinary evaluation, at no
  cost, if not already done
• Supposed to be available year-round

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Preschool age3-4 years

• If qualifies for public special education (Part
  B), mandated to receive services through the
  school
• Each school district determines how
• May contract with Head Start
• May enroll in Colorado Preschool Program
• May provide services with own personnel
• Not only educational services, but PT, OT,
  Speech, whatever is identified
• IEP (Individual Education Plan)

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Preschool age3-4 years

• What if they dont qualify for Part B (the public
  special education)?
• Head Start
• Colorado Preschool Program
• Private services via medical insurance (generally
  limited to PT, OT, occasionally Speech Therapy,
  maybe mental health)

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Community Partnership for Child Development

• One centralized source for birth to age 5 yrs if
  infant/child does not qualify for Part C or Part
  B
• Early Head Start, Head Start, Colorado Preschool
  Program, Even Start
• Phone [phone]

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Community Partnership for Child Development

• Early Head Start
• Age 0-3 who are at risk or have special needs,
  especially if they do not qualify for Part C
• Focused on low-income, special needs
• One or two half-days per week, plus home visits
• Can also provide PT, OT, Speech
• Has an Early Head Start with Child Care Option
• Assists enrolled families that need full-time
  child care
• Special needs infants and toddlers are welcome
• Sliding scale for the child care portion of the
  program, accepts CCAP (Child Care Assistance
  Program)

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Community Partnership for Child Development

• Head Start (3-4 year olds)
• In some school districts, for Part B kids
• Other spots open for at risk kids
• Reside in low-income families
• Special needs children
• Usually a waiting list for kids who are not in
  Part B
• Also has Head Start with Child Care option

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Community Partnership for Child Development

• Colorado Preschool Program (3-4 yrs)
• For kids who can benefit from a comprehensive
  early childhood development and family program
• Many of same services as Head Start
• Available for families exceeding the income
  limits for Head Start
• Only specific number of slots available, set by
  the state

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Community Partnership for Child Development

• Even Start (Family Literacy)
• Recognized parents as the childs first and best
  teacher
• English language acquisition
• GED preparation
• Literacy program
• For parents of kids in Head Start who need these
  services

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Community Partnership for Child Development

• Fantastic resource document 2005 Community
  Assessment
• Comprehensive report on availability of health,
  mental health, child care, early education, etc,
  etc for El Paso County
• From website www.cpcdheadstart.org

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School-Age Children5-21 years

• Those who qualify under Part B receive services
  through the schools via an IEP (public special
  education)
• Those who do not may be eligible for a 504 Plan

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Examples from CASA kids
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Any Questions?