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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEI-113 Transition Agreement1 FRANKLIN/FULTON COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH/INTELLECTUAL & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES/EARLY INTERVENTION 425 Franklin Farm Lane Chambersburg, PA 17202 (717) 264-5387 MH/IDD/EI PROCEDURE STATEMENT PROCEDURE SUBJECT: Transition Agreement PROCEDURE NUMBER: EI-113 Effective Date: January 13, 2013 Date Revised: June 20, 2018 References: - IDEA 34 CFR §303.209 - PA Act 212-1990 § 104 - Title 55 PA Code §4226.77 - Announcement: EI-12 #07 Collecting and Reporting Child Outcome Data in Infant/Toddler and Preschool Early Intervention Programs - Announcement: EI-13 #01 Transition of Toddlers to Preschool or Other Community Services POLICY: Franklin/Fulton Early Intervention program has a Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC) Agreement in both Franklin and Fulton counties that has been updated within the past 12 months. All LICC Interagency Agreement signatories support a transition process that is effective in sustaining the consistency of support and the least amount of disruption for families and children. Also, there is a shared vision of providing a continuum of options for all children in a variety of settings including appropriate community programs at the time of transition. Our Quality Enhancement Plan reflects continued collaboration between the Early Intervention Infant/Toddler Program, the Early Intervention Preschool Program, Head Start and Early Head Start to promote effective transition planning. Occasionally there are children who will be transferring to the Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAIU), in those cases the CAIU has a different procedure for children transitioning to their preschool services. Prior to the planning meeting, the Service Coordinator completes a preschool referral form and sends the form to the CAIU preschool secretary along with a copy of the release of information, invitation letter, and copy of the Evaluation Report/Individual Family Service Plan. The CAIU schedules the transition evaluation with the family, and notifies the Service Coordinator and provider(s). The CAIU does not sign the Franklin or Fulton Local Interagency 2 Coordinating Agreement but they are listed in the agreement so that their transition policy is available for those infants/toddlers who may need to transition through the CAIU. The Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC) Agreement in both Franklin and Fulton counties indicates who will attend the transition meetings that includes at minimum, the family, a Service Coordinator, and a representative of the Preschool Early Intervention program. It also states that invitation letters entitled “INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN A TRANSITION MEETING FOR PRESCHOOL EARLY INTERVENTION” must be sent to the family, Preschool Early Intervention program and other participants no later than 30 days before the scheduled transition meeting date, unless the parties all agree to meet within shorter timelines The appropriate transition steps and services that will be taken to support the toddler’s transition to the Preschool Early Intervention program shall be documented on the transition page of the Individual Family Support Plan (IFSP). The Service Coordination Supervisor transfers information, including the Early Childhood Outcome (ECO) data, at the same time the invitation to participate in the scheduled transition meeting is sent. If any changes to the IFSP are anticipated between the transition meetings and when the toddler transitions, the Infant/Toddler Early Intervention program shall invite their Preschool Early Intervention program partners to meet either in person or on the phone to discuss those changes and be included in the transition page of the IFSP. The Service Coordinator serves as the point of contact for each child entering the transition process on their caseloads. For any issues or concerns relating to the transition from Early Intervention services to Preschool services contact should be made with the Early Intervention Program Specialist The Tuscarora Intermediate Unit #11, Lincoln Intermediate Unit #12 and the Capital Area Intermediate Unit #15 Preschool Service Coordinators will also serve as points of contact for these transitioning children according to the school district in which they reside. For issues/concerns relating to the transition policy and its implementation, Tuscarora Intermediate Unit #11, Lincoln Intermediate Unit #12 and Capital Area Intermediate Unit #15 have a Preschool Service Coordinator or the Early Childhood Program Supervisor that shall serve as contacts for Preschool concerns. The Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC) Agreement in both Franklin and Fulton counties outlines the Evaluation procedure for the Preschool Program as follows: The Early Intervention Preschool Program will contact the family before the child’s third birthday to obtain permission to evaluate. This permission will allow the development of an Evaluation Report (ER). The report may include information from previously established as well as current evaluations and family reporting. The compilation identifies a child’s strengths and needs and will be used to develop appropriate Individual Education Plan (IEP) outcomes if eligibility is determined. Location for service is based on the recommended outcomes and the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) appropriate to meet these outcomes. The Early Intervention Preschool Program will strive to establish an IEP, when the child has been determined eligible by the child’s third birthday. However, upon the child’s third birthday, when 3 the family and the Early Intervention Preschool Program are in agreement, the IFSP may be recognized as an interim IEP. Age at referral Evaluation and service provider 0-45 days before turning 3 years old IU evaluation and services 45-59 days before turning 3 years old IU evaluation and services 60-90 days before turning 3 years old I/T evaluation and IU services at age 3 The table above indicates the jointly agreed upon evaluation schedule for those children who are entering services prior to or very close to their third birthday. Franklin/Fulton Early Intervention Program follows the agreed upon procedure in place for children who are referred to early intervention within 90 days of their third birthday; For a toddler who has been determined eligible for Infant/Toddler Early Intervention services between 45 days and 90 days before the toddler’s third birthday, and who may be eligible for the Preschool Early Intervention program, the Infant/Toddler Early Intervention program shall notify the Preschool Early Intervention program, as soon as possible after determining the toddler’s eligibility that the child will soon reach the age of eligibility for Preschool Early Intervention services, as per 34 CFR §303.209(b)(ii). There is recognition for the need to minimize testing for young children. The family, as well as the sending and the receiving agency, should understand why, as indicated in the child’s IFSP, a child has been determined eligible for the Infant/Toddler Early Intervention program. Qualified independent evaluation teams may use Informed Clinical Opinion to establish a child’s eligibility for Early Intervention services even when other instruments do not establish eligibility. However, a child cannot be eligible for Preschool Early Intervention Services based only on informed clinical opinion, so this topic must be addressed with families by the Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Program prior to any Preschool transition activities. The Early Intervention Program ensures timely notification by sending letters of invitation for transition to the Preschool Early Intervention Program or to other community services, families, and other participants no later than 30 days before the scheduled transition meeting date, unless the parties all agree to meet within shorter timelines. There are procedures in place that ensure screening, initial evaluation, initial assessment of the infant or toddler and family and that the initial IFSP meeting be completed within 45 days from the date Franklin/Fulton Early Intervention Program receives the referral. The Early Intervention Preschool Program will strive to establish an IEP, when the child has been determined eligible by the child’s third birthday. However, upon the child’s third birthday, when the family and the Early Intervention Preschool Program are in agreement, the IFSP may be recognized as an interim IEP. The Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports (BEISFS), in collaboration with the Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Programs, also notify the Preschool Early Intervention Program that the toddler will reach the age of eligibility for Preschool services. To assist with this notification process, prior to April 2nd of each year, and on a quarterly basis thereafter, the BEISFS shall identify and provide to the Preschool Early 4 Intervention programs the following information on toddlers who will turn three (3) during the upcoming year (July 1-June 30) and who may be eligible for the Preschool Early Intervention program per 34 CFR §303.401(d):  Name  Date of birth  Parent contact information (including parents’ names, addresses, and telephone number) Franklin/Fulton Early Intervention Program shall have assurance of compliance with requirements of Part C and Part B of IDEA as follows: All aspects of the toddler's current Early Intervention services shall be reviewed at the transition meeting so that appropriate planning for the toddler’s transition can occur. The appropriate transition steps and services that will be taken to support the toddler’s transition to the Preschool Early Intervention program shall be documented on the transition page of the IFSP developed with the family per 34 CFR§303. 209(d) and 34 CFR§303.344(h) and shall at a minimum include:  Discussions with, and training of, the toddler’s family regarding future program options and other matters related to the toddler’s transition;  Review the program options for the toddler for the period from the toddler’s third birthday through the remainder of the school year;  Preparation of the toddler for changes in service delivery, including activities to help the toddler adjust to, and function in, a new setting;  Transmission of information about the toddler, with parental permission, including evaluation and assessment information and copies of the toddler’s IFSP, to the local Preschool Early Intervention program; and  Confirmation that information about the toddler has been transmitted to the Preschool Early Intervention program. Staff new to the Franklin/Fulton Early Intervention Program will receive training regarding Transition Procedures. All Infant/Toddler personnel who work directly with at-risk children and children with disabilities shall receive the necessary training on the coordination of transition services on an annual basis. All policy and procedure statements will be reviewed annually or sooner when changes or updates are released. Trainings will occur for all staff including administrative, service coordination and fiscal staff as needed. Any change or update to any policy or procedure statement will be sent immediately upon receipt to the provider agencies and all changes are reviewed at the next scheduled Early Intervention provider meetings for further review and discussion.