AzEIP Professional Development System

Presentation Objectives What mandatory requirements and

attributes should I look for when contracting/hiring early intervention practitioners?

What are my contractual obligations before/after contracting/hiring an early intervention practitioner?

What are the mandatory trainings required for early intervention practitioners?

Who do I contact for questions and support?

Arizona Early Intervention Services

Team-based early intervention services are provided to children who are eligible for:

- Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP)

- DES/Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)

- Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

(ASDB)

AzEIP Personnel Qualifications

Qualifications:

(1) Educational qualifications

(2) Standards of Practice

Categories of personnel:

(a) Core team members

(b) Service Coordinators

(c) Other team members

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Educational Qualifications Core Team Members and Service

Coordinators:

Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in: Early childhood; EC special education, Family Studies, Speech-Language Pathology, Physical Therapy, or Occupational Therapy; OR

Bachelor’s degree in a closely related field and approval by DES/AzEIP; or

Developmental Special Instructionist and Service Coordinators hired in the AzEIP system before July 1, 2001

Certification & LicenseOccupational &

Physical Therapist Current, valid

Arizona license from the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners to practice OT.

Current, valid Arizona license from the Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy to practice PT.

Speech &Language Pathologist

Current, valid Arizona license from the Arizona Department of Health Services to practice as a speech-language pathologist.

SLP-CFY: must possess a valid, temporary Arizona license and approved supervision plan.

Therapy Assistants

Therapy assistants shall not provide services under this Contract.

- Physical Therapy Assistants (PTA)

- Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)

- Speech-language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA)

Psychologist Qualifications

Federal Law:

- Requires professionals to meet the State approved certification, licensure or registration for the profession in which s/he practices

Arizona Law:

- Licensed by the Arizona Board of Psychology Examiners or certified by the Arizona Department of Education as a school psychologist

Social Worker Qualifications Federal Law:

- Requires professionals to meet the State Approved certification, licensure or registrations for the profession in s/he practices

Arizona Law:

- Licensed by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (baccalaureate or masters degree)

Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

(ASDB)Vision Specialist

Vision Specialist: Certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired (CTVI)

ADE Special Education Certificate – Visually Impaired

Hearing Specialist

Hearing Specialist: Certified Teacher of the Deaf/ Hard of Hearing (TOD)

ADE Special Ed. Certificate- Hearing Impaired

Psychologist, Social Worker

Vision and Hearing Specialists Are not part of the Core Team

May provide evaluation and assessment and act as a Team Lead

May act as a team lead/ fulfill team lead requirements

Attend team meetings for children when identified on the IFSP

Additional Recommended Competencies

Efforts to Recruit Personnel

(Shortage of DSI and SC) Ongoing good-faith efforts to recruit and hire

appropriately and adequately trained personnel;

Document shortages of qualified personnel that meet the State’s qualification;

Hire the most qualified personnel available who are making progress towards completion of qualification

Recruitment of License Personnel

Creative Ideas

Connecting with the Universities Sharing staff with community

partners Incentive Packages Advertisements within discipline

specific newsletters

Other Considerations for EI Personnel

Can not transport any child/family enrolled in early intervention services;

Only provide services to a child in the presence of adult family member(s) or other caregivers.

Mandatory CPS reporters

Hiring Requirements

Personnel Qualifications

Fingerprint

Criminal history/ background check

Standards of Practice

Describes the knowledge and skills necessary for effective early intervention services

Knowledge Component- Training and Tests

-Policies Training

Skill Component-Apprenticeship

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New Hire Training

Must complete all training requirements

- I-TEAMS Registration

- DES/AzEIP Trainings- DES Trainings

- DDD Trainings

Department of Economic Security (DES)

Mandatory Training Mandatory training for all Non-State

employees:

- DES Contractors

- Volunteers

- Temporary Staff

Use Event Registration and Management Application (ERMA)

All are Computer Based Training (CBT)

DES Mandatory Training (Non-State Employees)

ADA 504 Compliance Overview

ADA 504T Compliance Overview Exam

DES Initial Security Training

DES ISA Annual Security Awareness Training Recertification

Limited English Proficiency Overview- Course Study

Limited English Proficiency Overview- Course Exam

DDD Required Trainings

Risk Assessment

Article 9

AzEIP TA System Personnel

DES/AzEIP Staff and Other Trainers

AzEIP Technical Assistance & Monitoring Specialists

AzEIP Family Technical Assistance & Monitoring Specialist

Technical Assistance Cadre22

Things to consider….

Agency’s procedures for new employees:

- Employee Handbook/Resources

- Procedures for new employee training

- Internal process for ongoing training

Employee Status:

- Defining full-time; part-time; contractors hours

- Requirements/responsibility of each team member as part of the team

Arizona Professional AffiliationsAZ Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners:

www.occupationaltherapyboard.az.gov

AZ State Board of Physical Therapy:www.ptboard.az.gov

AZ Board of Psychologist Examiners:

www.psychboard.az.gov

Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (Social Work):www.azbbhe.us

AZ Dept. of Health Services (Speech-Language Pathologist):www.azdhs.gov

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National Professional Affiliations

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

Division of Early Childhood (DEC)

ECTA Center: http://ectacenter.org/

OSEP Funded TA Cennter: http://www.personnelcenter.org/

Zero to Three

Professional Associations

www.asha.org American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

www.aota.org American Occupational Therapy Association

www.apta.org American Physical Therapy Association

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