CALIFORNIA EARLY START PROGRAM California Early Start Originally

CALIFORNIA EARLY START PROGRAM

California Early Start • Originally the Education for Handicapped Children Act (1975) • Federal Act known as IDEA Part C (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) • Multiple revisions sinception-latest one was in 2009

CA Early Start Lead Agencies • California Department of Education (CDE) • California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) • Other collaborating agencies include: – Family Resource Networks – Public Health – Social Services – Head Start

Funding Information • Early Start (ES) is given funds from the Federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)-the actual costs to administer the programs exceed the funding • CA General Fund makes up the difference • DDS manages and funds all Early Start (ES) and ongoing Regional Center (RC) programs

Early Start requires that an infant or toddler must: • Be between birth and 36 months of age • Need early intervention services • Meet eligibility criteria

Two Eligibility Criteria 1. Have a significant developmental delay 2. Have an established risk condition with a known probability of causing a disability or delay, or a solely low incidence disability

1. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY Defined as a significant difference between the infant or toddler’s current level of functioning and the expected level of development for his or her age in one or more of the following skill areas: • Cognitive • Self-Help/Adaptive • Physical (includes fine and gross motor) • Communication (includes receptive and expressive language) • Social-Emotional

2. ESTABLISHED RISK CONDITION • Certain chromosome and genetic disorders such as inborn errors of metabolism *Trisomy 21/Down syndrome • Head or central nervous system injuries *Traumatic Brain Injury *Near Drowning Survivor • Certain congenital malformations *Microcephaly * Severe cleft lip/palate • Solely low incidence disability (served by education only) *Blind *Deaf *Blind/Deaf * Orthopedic impairments

How Eligibility is Determined • Multidisciplinary Team: • RC staff, school staff, private vendors • Assessment Tools: • • Mullen Scales of Early Learning Hawaii Early Learning Profile (HELP) Early Learning Accomplishment Profile (E-LAP) Preschool Language Scale IV or V • Assess in all five areas • Must be determined within 45 days of referral

Age Criteria for Eligibility (changes in TBL implemented in 2009) Ø For kids up to 24 months of age– – Defined as developmental delay of 33% in one or more of five developmental areas, or Established risk Ø For kids 24 months to 36 months of age • • • Defined as developmental delay of 50% in one of five developmental areas, or Developmental delay of 33% in two of five areas or Established risk Ø 24 month age break is determined by the child’s age at time of referral.

Education Eligibility (Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) and Local Education Agency (LEA) • LEA serves ES children who are Solely Low Incidence (SLI) i. e. hearing, vision or orthopedic handicaps. • LEA can accept dual eligible children for ES services if they are under their “cap”. • Child has to meet RC ES eligibility first, then LEA can apply their criteria (Two 25% or one 50% delay). • If a child does not meet RC criteria and is not SLI, they cannot be found eligible by LEA.

The Stanislaus County Early Start Experience Brochures at schools, physicians, agencies Educational Presentations Child Find Human Services Health Professionals VMRC MCS SELPA Inter-Agency Meetings and Conferences HRIF Discharge Rounds Family & Friends STANISLAUS FAMILY RESOURCE SELPA NETWORK Early Start Evaluation Station Interim Service Coordinator Letter To Parents Family Interview Comprehensive Evaluation Intake assessment Prevention Program Recommendations Information/Referrals Early Start Ineligible Eligible IFSP Process

What happens after eligibility determination • If eligible, the child is assigned a Service Coordinator • An IFSP is written and services provided • If not eligible, the child is referred to: – Prevention Resource and Referral Program (PRRS) – Community resources

What is an IFSP? Individual Family Service Plan • An outcome-based written plan for providing early intervention services • Family Driven-based upon the child’s and family’s assessed strengths and needs • Developed through a multidisciplinary team process which includes the parent • Includes types of services and method of delivery, and is completed within 45 days of referral.

Early Start Required Services include: • • • • Assistive Technology Devices Audiology Family training, counseling, home visiting Health Services Diagnostic Medical Services Nursing Services Nutrition Services Occupational Therapy Physical Therapy Psychological Services Service Coordination Social Work Special Instruction Speech/Language Pathology Transportation (if EI related) Vision Services

Use of Private Health Insurance • For ongoing services parents are required to use their private insurance. • The private insurance will determine if the need for OT, PT or Speech is medical or developmental and either provide service or a denial. • RC is still obligated to provide services on IFSP in 45 days from date of IFSP. • Possible issues may arise with 2 providers involved with some children, one from private insurance, other a vendor to meet IFSP frequency.

Other Early Start Services (can be listed on the IFSP) Defined as services provided to an eligible infant or toddler, or their families, by other state or public or private state entities and subject to their own separate eligibility and entitlement regulations, such as: • Medical services (CCS; Medi-Cal) • Family Reunification (Social Services) • Food assistance (WIC, food stamps) • Childcare (private daycare)

Transition Planning • At age 2 ½ years, the Service Coordinator begins working with the family to identify and access services the child may need at 36 months, such as Regional Center Special Education Head Start Other community Services

The Third Birthday • Services, if needed, must be in place by the child’s third birthday • If eligible for Special Education Services, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) must be completed • If eligible for Regional Center services, an Individual Program Plan (IPP) must be completed

Service Options for Children at age 3 • • State preschool Special Education services Head Start program Private community preschools Center based Non-Public school Home services Regional Center services Combination of above options

Referring a Child Age 36 months or older for Regional Center Assessment • Regional Center will assess to determine if child has a condition qualifying for ongoing services • Speech delay alone is not a qualifying condition at age 36 months • Timeline to determine ongoing eligibility is 120 days

Eligibility for RC after age three • Person must have a Developmental Disability associated with: • I. Intellectual Disability (formerly Mental Retardation) • II. Autism • III. Cerebral Palsy • IV. Epilepsy • V. Other disabilities requiring treatment similar to mental retardation • Onset prior to age 18 • Expected to continue indefinitely • Significant limitation in at least 3 areas (communication, selfcare, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity, for independent living, economic self-sufficiency

Where to refer – Make Early Start and over 3 referrals to: – Valley Mountain Regional Center 529 -2626 fax: 557 -2174 Need to discuss the referral with the parent as they will need to give their written consent for any assessments.

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