Help Starts Here! Partner with Texas ECI to Support Infants and Toddlers with Special Needs and Their Families Kim Sporrer Outreach Coordinator/ECI Infant Program of Easter Seals

My story-Lonnie & Calvin

TODAY!!

What is Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)? ECI is a coordinated system of services and supports for Texas families who have children, birth to 36 months, with developmental delays, medical diagnosis or vision & hearing impairments. Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Division for Early Childhood Intervention Services 4900 N. Lamar, Austin, Texas 78751

Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)  ECI services are available in every Texas county.  Harris & surrounding counties have 11 local programs.  ECI has served Texas children & families since 1981.

ECI Funding ECI is funded through federal (IDEA Part C), state, and local funds, Medicaid, insurance and a family cost share system Some families pay a cost share determined by a sliding fee scale and based on family size and income after allowable deductions called the Family Cost Share Children & Families receiving Medicaid will not be billed for any of their ECI services (including children in CPS custody)

Who can receive ECI Services? Any child birth to 36 months living in Texas may be eligible. Families of all income levels may receive services. Referrals made by the parent or professional for evaluation

Eligibility Criteria Eligibility based on 3 areas: 1. Medically diagnosed condition A child who has a medically diagnosed condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay qualifies for ECI. The diagnosis must be on the DARS ECI list of qualifying medical diagnoses and medical records must be provided to confirm the diagnosis. *see referral brochure 11% of ECI’s enrolled children fit into this category

Eligibility Criteria cont… 2. Developmental Delay A child who has a developmental delay of at least 25% which affects functioning in one or more areas of development, including cognition, communication, gross or fine motor, social-emotional and adaptive/self-help qualifies for ECI. 86% of ECI’s population fits into this category *Speech, physical/motor and cognitive delays are the top three areas

Eligibility Criteria cont…. 3. Hearing and Vision Impairments A child who has an auditory or visual impairment as defined by the Texas Education Agency rule at 19 TAC Section qualifies for ECI. This determination is made by a team led by certified staff from the local independent school district. *3 % of ECI’s enrolled children fit into this category

Timeline of ECI Services  Referral-made by parent OR professional  Pre enrollment  Comprehensive evaluation/assessment  Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) Must be completed within 45 days of referral  Services First service must start 28 days from the IFSP date  Transition Transition plan by age 27 months Planning meeting 150 days before 3 rd birthday Referral to next service 90 days before 3 rd birthday

ECI Services developmental services speech-language pathology occupational therapy physical therapy counseling service coordination services (case management) social work services vision services assistive technology devices and assistive technology services health services necessary to enable the child to benefit from the other early intervention services

1/2007 Texas Early Childhood Intervention Services are provided in homes and community settings. Young children learn best when they are taught skills during the times and in the places where they need to use these skills. “Routines Based Intervention”

Who Works for ECI? – Early Intervention Specialists – speech-language pathologists – occupational therapists – physical therapists – social workers – licensed professional counselors – nurses – registered dieticians – orientation and mobility specialists – teachers for the visually impaired – teachers for the auditorally impaired

ECI/CPS Partnership Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) Texas Early Childhood Intervention CAPTA requires all children 0-3 with substantiated cases of abuse or neglect be referred to the state’s Part C program for a developmental screening or evaluation Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – Contained a provision very similar to the CAPTA provision

1/2007 Texas Early Childhood Intervention Why was CAPTA developed ? Current Brain Research shows – Babies’ brains are not fully developed at birth – Lack or disruption of certain experiences = missed opportunities that are irreplaceable – “Prime times” for learning occur between 0-5 years of age – Damaged relationships may result in delayed or atypical development – Persistently threatening environments=persistent states of fear, hypervigilance, hyperarousal, hyperactivity.

Texas Early Childhood Intervention

Referral Procedures Investigation Stage: Case Closed: Abuse or neglect Ruled Out or Unable to Determine, case is closed. Refer if suspect disability or delay within two days of being identified. Abuse or neglect is substantiated (Reason to Believe) case closed, no referral -IMPACT will generate a letter with ECI resources to all families in this category. [Note: This is not considered a "referral" to ECI.] Texas Early Childhood Intervention

Family Based Safety Stage (FBSS) Abuse or neglect is substantiated (Reason to Believe)-refer all designated victims under age three to ECI within 10 business days of the case being transferred to the FBSS unit. Disability or developmental delay of a child under three years of age is suspected at any time during the course of FBSS, refer to ECI within two business days of identifying the need. (Cases in which a disability or delay of a child under three years of age is suspected have a shorter, two-day timeline for referral, according to federal law.) Texas Early Childhood Intervention

Conservatorship Stage If a child is under three years of age is in CPS conservatorship and is eligible for STAR Health, no referral should be made until the child has had a Texas Health Steps exam (a developmental screening) with a STAR Health provider. The STAR Health provider will refer the child to ECI if appropriate. Exception: If a disability or developmental delay of a child under three years of age is suspected and the child's condition requires intervention prior to the child's initial or next Texas Health Steps exam, refer the child within two business days of the need being identified, after consultation with a supervisor, DD specialist, or CPS nurse consultant. Note: A child suspected of having a disability or developmental delay includes a child showing signs of being affected by illegal substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure. Texas Early Childhood Intervention

1/2007Texas Early Childhood Intervention Collaboration between ECI and CPS CPS caseworkers can participate as member of ECI team Ensure smooth transition for children from temporary to permanent placements ECI staff can address involvement of parent/caregiver and follow through of recommendations Confidentiality ECI must receive parental/legal guardian/surrogate parent consent to release records, to provide screening, evaluation, assessment and service delivery

1/2007Texas Early Childhood Intervention ECI Paperwork helpful to CPS Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) Developmental Assessment Progress Notes  Requests for documentation need to be addressed to Child’s service coordinator (listed on IFSP)

1/2007 Texas Early Childhood Intervention Refer To ECI BACH ECI Bay Area Rehabilitation Center ECI ECI Infant Development Program (UCP) ECI Project TYKE- Katy ISD ECI of MHMRA UTMB ECI LAUNCH Project GROW ECI ECI Keep Pace-HCDE Region 3 ESC ECI First Steps ECI Cornerstone ECI ECI First Steps Forward Region 6 ECI Programs

ECI Publications Texas Early Childhood Intervention ECI has materials that may be ordered at no cost for your office and to share with families: – Referral Brochure – Developmental Brochure – Growth Chart Order materials on line at

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