EarlySteps and the SICC: An Overview of Louisiana

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EarlySteps and the SICC An Overview of
Louisianas Early Intervention System and its
Advisory Council
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What is EarlySteps?

• EarlySteps, Louisianas Early Intervention
  System, is the Part C program of the Individuals
  with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
  (IDEA), which is federal legislation that was
  reauthorized by US Congress in November 2004

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EarlySteps History and Legislation

• Early intervention is a series of supports
  provided by authority of this federal law
  originally passed by Congress 20 years ago.
• Louisiana has always participated in Early
  Intervention since the legislation began and was
  originally called ChildNet with the Department
  of Education.
• In July 2003, DHH became the Lead Agency, and the
  system name was changed to EarlySteps. OCDD
  administers the program in DHH.
• Currently, every state participates in the Part C
  program (Ex. Georgias early intervention is
  called Babies Cant Wait. Mississippis is
  First Steps. )

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EarlySteps Progression in Legislation
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What does EarlySteps provide?

• Children and families enrolled in EarlySteps
  receive supports and services which enable them
  to help their child progress developmentally and
  to improve their childs functioning as a family
  member within the daily routines of the family.
• EarlySteps is a family education and training
  program.

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Mission and Philosophy

• To provide a family-centered, community based,
  interagency service system for infants and
  toddlers with disabilities and their families,
  where families are supported and the potential of
  each child is maximized.
• All eligible children and families have a right
  to comprehensive early intervention services,
  therefore they will be provided regardless of
  sex, race, color, creed, place of residence,
  culture, language or the familys ability to pay.
• The family is the constant in the childs life,
  while the service systems and the personnel in
  those systems fluctuate, therefore the system
  will be family-centered and designed to meet the
  needs of the family rather than meeting system
  needs

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Mission and Philosophy

• The structure and definition of families vary
  widely, as do the existing natural support
  systems of individual families. Therefore, the
  system will define family in a broad manner to
  include individuals considered as family and
  their supports
• Children and families vary according to specific
  strengths and needs. Therefore, the service
  system will be comprehensive and flexible to meet
  varying strengths and needs of children and
  families. It will strive to assist families in
  other areas such as respite and child care.
• Families and children will have access to
  coordinated resources. Therefore, The system
  will coordinate services across all agencies ,
  provide families with clearly defined points of
  entry and support the family through effective
  service coordination.

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A Family-Centered Support Model

• All children have a right to be part of a family,
  and families have the right to remain intact.
  Therefore, the service system will be committed
  to supporting families in their efforts to
  maintain children with special needs in the home.
  The service system will service children in the
  context of the family, and efforts will be
  directed toward maintaining family unity.
• Children and families have the right to develop
  their potential within natural settings.
  Therefore, the system will provide early
  intervention services in natural environments,
  and encourage maximum participation and
  integration in community life.
• The needs of children and families are dynamic.
  Therefore, the system will allow for ease of
  entry, and ease of exit when services are no
  longer necessary. Additionally, the system will
  provide a mechanism for re-entry should services
  once again become needed.

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A Family-Centered Support Model

• Children and families have a right to quality
  programs. Therefore, the system will ensure that
  services are provided by appropriately trained
  and qualified personnel.
• Families have a right to privacy and other
  procedural safeguards. Therefore, the system
  will be designed in such a manner as to protect
  these rights.
• Families have a right to determine what is best
  for their individual situation and to fully and
  equally participate in the planning and
  implementation of intervention. Therefore, the
  system will provide necessary resources to the
  family to enable the family to become, or
  continue to be, the primary advocate and planner
  for the child. However, these roles will not be
  thrust upon families who are unable or unwilling
  to assume them. In all cases, the family will
  play an integral part in the assessment and the
  development of the individual family services
  plan.

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Who is Eligible?

• The child must be age birth to 3 years, but not
  passed their 3rd birthday.
• The child must live in Louisiana.
• The child must have a diagnosed medical condition
  that has a high probability of resulting in a
  developmental delay.
• OR
• The child is experiencing developmental delays in
  two areas as measured by a developmental
  assessment Battelle Developmental
  Inventory(BDI-2)in the following areas

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Who Is Eligible Continued?

• Physical Development (crawling, walking, seeing,
  hearing)-fine and gross motor.
• Cognitive Development (learning skills or problem
  solving)
• Social and Emotional Development (playing with
  others, showing feelings)
• Adaptive Development (feeding, getting dressed)
• Communication (listening, talking, expressing
  self)-receptive and expressive language

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Autism Screenings

• Offered at the initial evaluation to newly
  referred children age 18 months and older
• At every six month review and annual review
  for children age 18 months and older who are
  already receiving services
• At the request of families

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What supports and services are offered?

• There are 17 early intervention family support
  services that may be accessed through EarlySteps
• Assistive technology devices and services
• Audiology Services
• Family Training, counseling and home visits
• Health Services (family education and to assist
  with other EarlySteps services only)
• Medical Services (for diagnostic evaluation
  purposes only)
• Nursing Services(family education and to assist
  with other EarlySteps services only)
• Nutrition Services

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What supports are offered?

• Special Instruction
• Speech Language Pathology
• Transportation (to and from EarlySteps services
  only)
• Translation/Interpreter Services (Foreign
  Language and Sign Language)
• Vision Services
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Psychological Services
• Service Coordination
• Social Work Services

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Where are supports provided?

• EarlySteps supports are provided in the home or
  any other community setting where children live
  and play.
• This is often referred to as the natural
  environment of the child, a setting which would
  be typical for a child between the age of birth
  and three years.
• Some examples would be the home, childcare
  center, park and grandmothers house.

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Natural Environment - Home
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Why provide supports here?

• Providing supports and services in the natural
  environment reinforces the acquisition of
  developmental skills that can be practiced
  throughout the day during the typical routines of
  the child and family.

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Child Find Component

• Federal law (IDEA) requires that Louisiana
  identify, locate and evaluate all infants and
  toddlers who are eligible for Part C (EarlySteps)
  supports and services.

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Referral Process

• Physicians, hospitals, public health facilities
  and other health care providers are required to
  refer any child they suspect may have a
  developmental delay or a medical condition with a
  high risk of resulting in a developmental delay
  to EarlySteps no more than 7 days of seeing the
  child.
• To make sure we identify all children needing
  Early Intervention services, parents may refer
  their own child.
• Anyone can refer a child to EarlySteps.

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How are referrals made?

• Referring a child is a simple process.
• EarlySteps has 10 System Points of Entry (SPOEs)
  set up across the state to perform intake and
  eligibility activities for children referred to
  EarlySteps.
• The person making the referral should determine
  which parish the child lives in and contact the
  SPOE for that parish by phone, fax, mail, or
  email.
• A list of SPOEs is on the SICC website and on the
  EarlySteps website
• A parent can call the SPOE and make a referral by
  phone.
• Remember, anyone can make a referral to
  EarlySteps.
• Referral number 1-866-EarlySteps or
  1-866-327-5978

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After the referral

• After the SPOE receives the referral, the SPOE
  Intake Coordinator contacts the family of the
  child being referred within three working days.
• If the family is interested in receiving
  supports, arrangements are made to make a visit
  within 10 working days from the date the referral
  was received, to complete the intake activities.

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Determination of Eligibility

• The next step is determination of eligibility,
  which will involve a Comprehensive Developmental
  Assessment of the child by professionals enrolled
  as EarlySteps providers.
• For those children who have a medical condition,
  their medical diagnosis must be documented by the
  appropriate professional qualified to make the
  diagnosis, such as their pediatrician.

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If child is eligible

• If the child is found eligible to receive
  EarlySteps services, a team, which includes the
  parents, is chosen to complete an Individual
  Family Service Plan (IFSP) for the child.
• During this meeting, the outcomes the family
  wants to achieve are identified from the
  family-directed assessment. The teams decides
  what supports are needed to assist the child and
  family to achieve these outcomes. The family
  also chooses service providers who are enrolled
  with EarlySteps to provide these supports.

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Timelines

• The entire process we just described should not
  exceed 45 calendar days and services are
  available at no cost to families.

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Indicators of Success

• How do we measure EarlySteps
• success?
• How do we know we are meeting our 17
  requirements?
• General Supervision System or Quality Enhancement
  Process

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Quality Enhancement

• Monitoring Activities cyclical and focused
• Policies and Procedures
• Professional Development and Targeted Technical
  Assistance
• Fiscal Management
• Data Processes EIDS and Complaint System
• Dispute Resolution
• Improvement, Correction, Incentives, Sanctions

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Quality Enhancement

• State Performance Plan
• Annual Performance Report
• Due February 1 Annually
• --Performance Indicators
• Services provided within 30 days of IFSP
• Infants and Toddlers receive services in Natural
  Environments
• From entry to exit children improve in social
  emotional, knowledge, and behavior

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Quality Enhancement

• Families know their rights, communicate child
  needs, help children develop and learn
• 1.5 of 0-1 year olds in LA are identified
  (1.64)
• 2.65 of 0-3 year olds are identified
• (2.50)
• IFSPs developed within 45 days of referral

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Quality Enhancement

• Children transition at age 3
• System identifies and corrects noncompliance
  within 1 year
• Complaints are resolved in 60 days
• Due process hearings adjudicated within timelines
• Mediations result in agreements
• Data is timely and accurate

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Keeping up with the latest

• Updates for EarlySteps including the State
  Performance Plan (SPP) and the Annual Performance
  Report (APR) are reviewed at quarterly State
  Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) meetings
  and are posted on the EarlySteps website.
• EarlySteps child count and Status of the Region
  reports are discussed at SICC quarterly meetings
• Public comment and questions are encouraged at
  SICC quarterly meetings

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What is the SICC?

• The SICC is an independent board that advises
  EarlySteps. When a State participates in the
  early intervention program, the SICC is a
  required component.
• The ICC functions under the Governors Office of
  Community Programs.

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Organizational Structure SICC and EarlySteps
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Council Membership

• All council members are appointed by the governor
  and represent the population of Louisiana.
• The SICC membership is composed of
• (1) at least 20 parents of children with
  disabilities
• (2) at least 20 public or private providers of
  early intervention services
• (3) at least one member from the state
  legislature
• (4) at least one member representing personnel
  preparation
• (5) at least one representative from each of the
  state agencies involved in the provision of, or
  payment for, early intervention services
• (6) at least one member from the state education
  agency responsible for preschool services
• (7) at least one member from the agency
  responsible for the state governance of health
  insurance
• (8) at least one member representing a Head Start
  agency or program in the state
• (9) at least one member representing the agency
  responsible for child care
• (10) other members selected by the Governor. 

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Committee Information

• What are standing committees? What are ad-hoc
  committees?
•  
• Our standing committees include the Executive
  Committee, the Program Components Committee, the
  Comprehensive System of Personnel Development
  (CSPD), and the Public Relations Committee.
• The Executive Committee is made up of the ICC
  council officers and chairpersons from each
  committee, including ad-hoc committees, and each
  committee receives one vote on the SICC Executive
  Committee. The vice-chair of each standing
  committee may attend and vote in the absence of
  the chair. A Lead Agency Representative shall be
  present at the Executive Committee meetings.  
• Ad-Hoc committees are formed to complete a
  specific goal/purpose and dissolve after the task
  is completed. The SICC Chair determines the need
  for an ad-hoc committee and appoints the chair of
  the Committee

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  How do I join a committee?

• You may request an application from Christie
  Smith _at_ Christie.Smith_at_la.gov or you may visit
  the SICC website _at_ http//gov.state.la.gov/SICC
  to fill out an online application.
•  
• Your application will be reviewed at the next
  Executive Committee meeting for approval and you
  will be notified of your acceptance.
•  
• If you have questions about which committee you
  may be the best fit for, reach out to Christie
  Smith _at_ Christie.Smith_at_la.gov or 225-219-7560.

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Your role as a member Advising Effectively

• Attend Regional Interagency Coordinating Council
  (RICC meetings) in your area.
• Attend quarterly SICC meetings (January, April,
  July, October)
• Email Christie Smith _at_ Christie.Smith_at_la.gov to
  be added to the email distribution list to
  receive all statewide updates and ICC meeting
  notices.
• Visit the SICC websiteit is updated regularly _at_
  http//gov.state.la.us/SICC. Review the Strategic
  Plan online to take a comprehensive look at
  pending work of the ICC and completed activities.
  
• Join a committee.
• Schedule meeting or call at your convenience with
  Executive Director.

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RICC meetings

• Each Region within the state has an Interagency
  Coordinating Council (RICC). Parents, guardians,
  caregivers, providers, stakeholders, and all
  interested parties are encouraged to attend RICC
  meetings to stay current with the latest
  information and provide valuable feedback.
• Regional Coordinators are listed on the SICC
  Website and the EarlySteps Website

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Quick Facts Recap

• EarlySteps is Louisianas Early Intervention
  system
• The SICC, a required component, is the advisory
  council
• The council is governor appointed
• EarlySteps is an interagency delivery system
  based upon a family support model
• Supports are delivered in the childs natural
  environment
• Referrals to EarlySteps are processed by the SPOE
  in each region (Single Point of Entry)
• Each region of the state has a RICC that
  discusses regional developments and concerns.
  Each region has a regional coordinator (list on
  SICC website and EarlySteps website)
• EarlySteps has a quality assurance planall
  documents and updates are discussed at quarterly
  SICC meetings (Jan. April, July, and Oct.)

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Websites

• http//gov.state.la.us/SICC
• www.earlysteps.dhh.louisiana.gov/
• EarlySteps Program Manager, Brenda Sharp
  Brenda.Sharp_at_la.gov
• SICC Executive Director, Christie Smith
  Christie.Smith_at_la.gov