“Don’t Worry. But Don’t Wait.”

Victoria Meeder, Marketing/

Public Awareness Supervisor Criss Hickey,

Training & Technical Assistance Specialist

Welcome to the 2011 MiAEYC Early Childhood Conference

Learning Objectives1. Learn about Michigan's

early intervention system, Early On®

2. How to make a referral3. Red flags of development

Organizational StructureOFFICE OF INNOVATIVE PROJECTS

Early On® Training & Technical Assistance• Personnel development for Early On

Pre-Service • Early On Center for Higher Education

Early On Public Awareness• Child find for Infants and Toddlers (Birth to age 3)

Project Find• Child find for special education (0 to 26)

619 Training and Technical Assistance • Early Childhood Special Education Focus 3 to 5

What is Early On®• A statewide system of early intervention

services mandated by federal legislation (Part C of IDEA)• Part C = birth to 3 years• Part B = 3 to 21 years

• Designed to help families find the social, health and educational services that will promote the development of their infants and toddlers with special needs

• Based on partnerships between families and service providers and on collaboration among community agencies, organizations and private practitioners;

• Emphasizes early identification and early services

Purpose of Part C• To enhance the development

of infants and toddlers;• To reduce costs to our

society;• To maximize the potential of

individuals with disabilities;• To enhance the capacity of

families…;• To enhance the capacity of

states…

Structure of Part C in Michigan

Michigan InteragencyCoordinating Council (MICC)

Dept ofComm. Health

Dept ofHuman Services

Dept ofPublic Health

CommunityMental Health Local Service Areas/

Intermediate School Districts (57)

Early On Coordinators Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC)

Major Grantees:• Qualitative Compliance

Information Project• Early On Training &

Technical Assistance• EO Public Awareness • MI Alliance for Families• MI Compliance Info

System (funded by Part B)

Michigan State Board of Education

Michigan Department of Education

Office of Early Childhood Education & Family Services

US Dept of Education -Office of Special Education Programs

U.S. Congress - IDEA

Early On Services Are:

• Strength(s) based• Family Centered• Based on parent/

professional partnerships• Based on interagency

collaboration

Early On is a System of ServicesHealth

Services Physicians Insurance

Children's Special Health Care

Child Care

Mental Health

Easter Seals

Early Intervention Services

Health Department

Social ServicesEarly Head Start Hospitals

Eligibility for Early On Services

• Any infant or toddler with an established condition (i.e., a physical or mental condition likely to lead to a delay)

• Developmental Delay • Under 2 months of age - any delay • 2 to 36 months of age - 20% in one or more areas

• Change in Eligibility Began July 2010

Established ConditionsEstablished Conditions: Children with established conditions are those from birth through age two who have a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in a developmental delay.

Categories of Established Conditions:• Congenital Anomalies• Chromosomal Anomalies• Infectious Conditions• Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders• Other Diseases• Hearing Deficiency• Other Fetal/Placental Anomalies• Exposures Affecting Fetus• Chronic Illness• Developmental Disorders• Mental Health Conditions

Delay in 1 of more of the categories:• Physical (including hearing and vision)• Gross and Fine Motor Development• Communication Development• Cognitive Development• Social/Emotional Development• Adaptive (self-help)

What is the Early On® timeline?• Parental Notification

– Within 10 days of referral• Evaluation and Assessment

– Within 45 days • Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)

– Within 60 days• Transition

– Up to nine months before exit– Minimum of 90 days before exit

Parent Notification• When first contact is made to parents, they need to know 3

things1. What is Early On?2. Family rights (procedural safeguards)3. A description of the consent that they must give in order

for the child to be evaluated• Consent to evaluate form • Authorization to share form (updated every six months)

• Every family receives at no charge 1. Evaluation and assessment2. Service coordination3. Development of an IFSP

Developmental Evaluation• Two people (or more) from different

professions or disciplines– Consists of 5 parts

• Cognitive Development• Physical Development, including vision and hearing,

gross and fine motor• Communication Development• Social or Emotional Development• Adaptive Development

• Parent input should be considered in all areas

Health Appraisal• Obtain information about past and current

health– Physical Examination

• By doctor, nurse, or nurse practitioner• Must be conducted within:

– 3 months for a child 18 months or under– 6 months for a child over 18 months

Individual Family Service Plan

• The IFSP meeting will include:– Results of the evaluation– Concerns of the parents– Outcomes desired by the parents for their child– Outcomes in natural environments and daily routines– Supports needed by the family– Early intervention services identified to support the

outcomes

Review of the Plan of Service• Every Six-Months or sooner a Review of the

IFSP outcomes must be evaluated• At least every 12 months a new IFSP is

developed• Up to nine months before a child turns three

years of age a transition planning meeting is held

• Assistive Technology Services

• Audiology Services• Family Training,

Counseling & Home Visits

• Nursing Services• Nutrition Services• Occupational

Therapy

• Speech Therapy• Physical Therapy• Special Instruction• Social Work• Psychological

Services• Health Services• Service Coordination• Transportation• Vision Services

Services Provided by Early On

When to Make a Referral • If an established condition exists, it's best

practice to share information about Early On.• When a parent expresses concern• When there is an identified red flag about a

child’s development

Red Flags at 6 Months• Infant not reaching for objects • Not yet rolling over from stomach to back• Does not make eye contact • Does not laugh or squeal

* (see handout for additional information about typical development and red flags for children birth to 48 months of age)

Red Flags at Twelve Months • Persistent mouthing of objects • Excessive self-stimulation• Cannot stand when supported • Uses only one side of body • Not transferring objects from one hand to the other • Not looking for hidden objects • Not using single words • Does not use gestures, i.e., waving, pointing, or shaking

head

Red Flags at 18 Months • Not walking independently • Walks on tiptoes• Excessive rocking• Withdrawn • Does not respond to simple requests • Little or no social engagement • Does not point or try to indicate wants

Red Flags at 24 Months • Inability to walk up and down stairs• Any regression of skills • No two word phrases • Persistent poor transitions • Does not show affection • Does not know and point to 5 body parts

Discussing Potential Referral• Discuss concern(s) with parent • If they share concern(s), proceed with a referral. If not – what to do?• Provide opportunities to observe similar age children • Provide information about developmentally appropriate

behaviors • Keep log of identified concern(s) to share with parents• Remind parent about the benefits of Early On, input from

specific disciplines• Provide an Early On brochure to parent

How to Make a Referral

1. Visit www.1800EarlyOn.org2. Call 1-800-EARLY ON (327-5966)3. Fax 1-517-668-0446 4. Contact your local county Early On directly

1800EarlyOn.org

ProjectFindMichigan.org

Early On Michigan On Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

http://twitter.com/EarlyOnMichigan

Order Public Awareness ProductsBrochures & Bookmarks Growth Charts

Magnets

Bookmark These Websites1-800-EARLY ON 1800EarlyOn.org

1-800-252-0052ProjectFindMichigan.org

1-866-334-KIDSeotta.ccresa.org