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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEI-114 Screening1 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: Screening PROCEDURE NUMBER: EI-114 Effective Date: April 11, 2015 Date Revised: June 20, 2018 References: - IDEA 34 CFR §303.320 - Announcement: EI-12 #01 Screening, Evaluation and Assessment in Early Intervention POLICY: Franklin/Fulton Early Intervention Program has a procedure for screening infants/toddlers who may be eligible for services. The purpose of screening is to determine if a child’s performance is sufficiently different from other children, suggesting that additional testing is needed. The following are a list of components for this policy: Infants/toddlers who are referred and have had a screening conducted by a pediatrician/physician or other healthcare provider; the local Children Youth and Family Agency or other social service agency; or an Early Care and Education Program will not be required to have an additional screening conducted. Screenings will also not be used for infants/toddlers who already have a diagnosed physical or mental condition which is likely to result in a developmental delay. Prior to conducting a screening for an infant/toddler referred for Early Intervention services, the parent will be provided with a written notice of intent to screen the child and obtain parental consent before conducting the screening using the Parent’s Rights Agreement. The screening process shall not delay the timeline requirements for evaluation, assessment, initial Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meeting or service delivery. The timeline requirement from referral to initial IFSP meeting is 45 days. Franklin/Fulton Early Intervention program uses the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, which is the recommended screening tool to be utilized by Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Programs. If a different tool is used, based on the needs of the infant/toddler, the Service Coordinator will document the reason why in the service coordination notes. The screening tools used shall be 2 administered only by those personnel who have been trained in the administration of that screening tool. Franklin/Fulton Early Intervention Program shall inform the parent/caregiver of their right to an evaluation at any time during the screening process. The caregiver will be notified in writing of the results of the screening and the need for an evaluation and assessment. If the screening or any other available information presented about the child indicates that the infant/toddler is meeting age appropriate developmental milestones, the parents will be notified in writing of that determination and be provided information on their right to request an evaluation. Franklin/ Fulton Early Intervention Program will also provide information on other community supports and services that may be available to the infant/toddler and family. Contact information for the Franklin/Fulton Early Intervention Program and Preschool Programs will be provided in the event that the family should have concerns regarding their child’s development in the future. Franklin/Fulton Early Intervention Program understands that there may be exceptional family circumstances when the program may not be able to meet the 45 day timeline. These circumstances include:  the infant/toddler or parent is unavailable to complete the screening, the initial evaluation, the initial assessments of the infant/toddler and family, or the initial IFSP meeting due to exceptional family circumstances that are documented in the infant/toddler’s Early Intervention records; or  the parent has not provided consent for the screening, the initial evaluation, or the initial assessment of the infant/toddler, despite documented, repeated attempts by the Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Program to obtain parental consent Staff new to the Franklin/Fulton Early Intervention Program will receive training regarding screening procedures. 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.