HomeMy WebLinkAboutEI Provider Meeting Minutes 01-17-24
Early Intervention Provider Meeting
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
3³ ¥¥ 0±¤²¤³Ȁ Jenn Hawbecker, Stacey Brookens, Zachary Gantz
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(¤ «³§0±® 0¤£¨ ³±¨¢² - Cynthia Bosserman
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-®µ¨¦ -®´³ ¨² 0¤£¨ ³±¨¢ 4§¤± ¯¸ Lauren Everetts
3¤±µ¨¢¤ !¢¢¤²² lj - ¦¤¬¤³ Holly Whiteside
"´¨«£¨¦ "«®¢ª² 4§¤± ¯¸ Megan Lesko
!²¯¨± ³¨®² Rachel Bechtel
)µ® (¤ «³§# ±¤ Breanne Clair
!* 4§¤± ¯¸ 3¤±µ¨¢¤² Jennifer Davis
0¤# ±¤² 3´¯¯®±³ 3¤±µ¨¢¤² Airica Evangelista-Simmers
5#0 /¥ #¤³± « 0! Marci Walborn
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This meeting was held in virtual format. All providers introduced themselves and their
agency affiliations.
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Airica is the EI Program Assistant. She has been in this position for three (3) months
now. She was recently approved to do Special Instruction.
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SAM EI has a team of seven (7). Things are going really well. Holly (and Jenn) is
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working on things for EI verification that will be occurring the week of January 23.
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PTS has hired a Special Instructor who started two (2) weeks ago. They have also
hired two (2) Occupational Therapists. Another one of their Occupational Therapists
will be leaving. Krista has been in contact with the Service Coordinators (SCs) to get
her caseload worked out. Krista will be interviewing today for another part-time OT.
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HealthPro recently added a Physical Therapist (PT) and is looking to add an OT
shortly. HealthPro continues to grow their team!
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Emily is no longer doing evaluations. If there is a speech evaluation or any specific
concerns with evaluations, SCs can call Megan as she will be filling in more now.
Early Intervention Provider Meeting
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
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Some providers have reached out stating they have not received the EFT summaries
that they normally receive with their deposits. It has affected check dates for
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December 26 and January 8.
are trying to work out. The last update was it has been fixed but we will not know
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this until the next check date on January 22.
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This process will be starting February 10. Providers will receive Appendix A and
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budget packets. These documents are due April 1 (due to March 31 falling on a
Sunday) to Jenn.
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Please be sure you are consistently billing by the 15 of each month and to email
both Zach and Jenn when you have voids or adjustments with billing.
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https://www.eita-pa.org/eisd/it-service-delivery/itsd-learningpath/
If you have anyone who wants to go through the Service Delivery Learning Path,
there is a navigation service guide on the Early Intervention Technical Assistance
(EITA) website. The guide gives information about going through the different
modules.
As a reminder, the Service Delivery Learning Path includes the EI Service Delivery
online course, the Family Guided Routines Based Intervention (FGRBI) online
course, SS-OO-OO-RR online course and webinar, Family 5Q online course and
webinar and the application of FBRBI key indicators webinars part 1 and 2. After
that the person would select a trio or a professional learning community (PLC) and
submit video to see about reaching fidelity with the coaching.
A stipend of $1,000 is still being provided to individuals when they are endorsed. It
is unknown how long that will continue. Jenn encouraged everyone to do the
learning path now so they could get the stipend for their time for doing all the
course work.
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In the past, we have used the EI Service Delivery tracking sheet. Jenn can send each
has. The core leadership team would like to review all of these to see where
everyone is, what courses are taken, who has completed courses, etc. Jenn would
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like the tracking sheets submitted by Friday, February 16. She will try to get them
Early Intervention Provider Meeting
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
sent back out to everyone today or tomorrow. This will give providers a month to
get them updated and sent back.
In the tracking sheet, there are a couple different tabs. There are two (2) tabs
providers want to really pay attention to. For those who are not currently going
through the learning path but who have just taken the beginning webinars that Jenn
has been asking people to
through all the modules and taking the webinars to work towards reaching fidelity
and being endorsed, you will want to use the
A question was asked if when Jenn refers to videos if it is the 15 minute videos even
though a lot of them are embedded in the learning path.
o Jenn confirmed that these are the videos she is referring to. If someone is not
taking the learning path, she wants them to see the videos. New staff may not
be committed right away to be doing the learning path so Jenn would like
them to watch the videos. They give perspective from those doing the FGRBI
coaching and from families. I
how we are using it in PA.
o Jenn is also asking new staff to do the service delivery and FGBRI module.
Once a staff starts on the pathway, they will probably see the videos again
but it will be a refresher. Once they start watching the videos and do one of
need to get.
o It was noted that the videos are also embedded in the orientation course and
the FGBRI. They receive a certificate for completing these.
o Jenn shared the EITA portal during the meeting. On the Infant/Toddler
Service Delivery page, all PA videos are listed. These are the videos Jenn is
referring to. Jenn would like staff to watch all eight (8). If one is embedded in
something else that is fine. As far as the Service Delivery Learning Path, Jenn
would like new staff to take the EI Service Delivery and the FGBRI online
courses. If they go onto the learning path, they do not need to retake the
courses.
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will update the providers. In the meantime, please continue to do what is
requested above.
o It was asked if these must be completed within 120 days or just within
completion of their first year. Jenn confirmed just within the first year. Prior
to starting, staff must do the EI orientation then within the first 120 days
they must complete first aid & CPR and fire safety & emergency evacuation.
The mandated reporter has to be completed prior to starting but everything
else is just within the first year.
o A provider noted that it would be tough for new staff to complete the new
session notes without having the service delivery and FGRBI courses.
Early Intervention Provider Meeting
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
o Further discussion occurred about the orientation. There are two (2)
certificates provided one for the orientation and one for the service
delivery. There have been times when staff has not downloaded it so a
reminder was shared to have staff go into the EITA portal to download both
certificates as they do not realize they have completed it. The FGRBI is then
and your orientation course says that it is six (6) clock hours. Jenn will have
to make sure that others are aware of this.
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Jenn reminded everyone of the Job Aid on the EITA portal for the session notes -
https://www.eita-pa.org/it-service-delivery/. This is a good training to have staff
take as well. The new session notes are quite different than the previous session
notes.
Jenn also reminded staff of the padlet - https://padlet.com/mbrink2/pa-early-
intervention-session-note-2023-7ok3qwqkmbek16rg. This has the annotated
guidance for writing session notes, a link to the Job Aid, Session Note Formats (for
those who want to complete it digitally instead of handwriting them) and how to
order session notes.
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The provider registry is being updated. Jenn was not able to do the webinar last week but
was able to go onto the EITA portal yesterday to watch it.
Things that are staying the same
o Your username and password
o All requirements for documentation
o Organization information, IDs and roles
o Individual information
o Process for creating new accounts
o Availability of resource documents
Things that are changing
o The URL or website you log in to
o Landing page
o Employment managing positions within an agency
o Education and Training will only have options related to EI
o Any information related to ECE (PQAS, PA Key) will be separate from EI and remain
on the previous site
If you had someone who worked in child care previously or had credits from
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items related to EI that will be on the new website.
Preparation for the transfer over to the new system
Early Intervention Provider Meeting
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
o Blackout period from January 22-28, 2024
o Launch date is January 29, 2024
o Make sure all information is up-to-date in the registry prior to the blackout period.
o Anything entered in the old site after January 21, 2024 will not be migrated.
o Training certificates earned during the blackout period can be uploaded upon go
live date.
If you have new staff that is just setting their account up, they may want to wait. If they set
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it up prior to January 21, it should migrate over. However, we are close enough so it may
be best just to wait.
Jenn recommends everyone goes into the EITA Portal to watch the webinar as it walks you
through the landing page, reports, where to enter information, etc. https://www.eita-
pa.org/. Go to the home page of the EITA Portal; scroll to the bottom; then under the EI
Provider Registry Webinar, the first bullet point is the Infant Toddler Registry Updates link
that will take you to the webinar to watch.
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EI verification is next week! Members of the verification team from the Office of Child
Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and one peer reviewer from Cumberland/Perry
will be in Franklin/Fulton January 23-25, 2024. They will be pulling information from
standard record review, session notes, at risk tracking children, Infant, Toddler and
Families (ITF) waiver children, ineligible for EI, no longer eligible for EI and transition
records. Holly and Jenn have most of this together. They will be doing home visits,
interviews and looking at policies and procedures. The verification will take place at the
Service Access & Management (SAM) office. If anyone needs Jenn during this time, you can
call her cell phone or email her (she will try to check emails as she can). Jenn will report
back to providers once we get the final report.
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An email came out from Erin Nye several months ago regarding the PESI Training
Opportunity. The mental health department offers free PESI trainings. The three (3)
Integrative Trauma Treatment Master class; and (3) Personality Disorders Certification
Training. If you are interested in these trainings, a registration form needs to be completed
then sent to Cori Seilhamer (caseilhamer@franklincountypa.gov). Cori will then register
you for the course(s). Cori does request that you send the certificate of completion back to
her.
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Jenn sent out the provider roster yesterday. Please take a look at it and let her know
if you have no changes OR what changes need to be made. A copy will then be sent
out with the minutes.
Early Intervention Provider Meeting
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
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Holly noted that the SCs are struggling to get therapists even at the easier locations.
She has asked staff that when we send out the request for a therapist that we give 24
hours for providers to respond. If no one responds, a reminder is sent. If one
provider responds within 24 hours, that is the provider chosen. If multiple
responses are received from providers and there is trouble contacting the family (a
family is requested to respond within one day or so) then the SC will pick the
provider that fits the best day and time for the family.
If SCs are struggling with getting providers to respond, they have been requested to
notify Holly and Jenn so they are aware. SCs have been busy and are now pushing to
the end of February to get evaluations done which is making the 45 day deadline
very tight. It is taking 30 days or longer for Holly to get reports out as she is making
a lot of corrections.
A provider asked if there was a certain discipline that is harder to schedule then
cipline, it may
also be a certain area. She encourages providers to take a look at the emails coming
out to make note of the disciplines being requested and the areas. This could assist
the providers in potentially hiring new staff and covering those areas.
A provider expressed that it is helpful when the SCs do send reminders as caseloads
change so while they may not have been able to fill the appointment with the first
email their schedule may have opened up when the reminder comes out.
Holly encouraged providers and therapists to look at the teaching strategies when
they first get to see them and update them whenever they possibly can. Sometimes
the teaching strategies are not made clear to the SCs initially. Some of the strategies
are not accurate at the time and may need tweaking. SCs will try to go out on the
first and second visit to talk to therapist and discuss teaching strategies. SCs are
happy to change the information as the therapist sees fit. New SCs do not have the
history and vocabulary as those with longevity may. We want to make sure what is
going in the plan is accurate.
A provider suggested that when the SCs send out referrals to please cover all
information such as the frequency and location. If this information is not include a
therapist cannot offer to provide the service. A standardized referral will help in
therapist making a decision within 24 hours. Holly will remind SCs to please include
this information. If a SC is not doing this, please let Holly know.
A provider asked if they do not hear back from the SC that another agency is chosen
is it say to say within 48 hours that they are able to offer that day and time to
someone else. This causes a delay as the therapist does not want to offer the slot to
another child without knowing. Holly will ask the SCs to notify the therapist that
another agency was selected.
Early Intervention Provider Meeting
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
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Budget packets (to include Budget/Rate Letter, Staff Roster, Unit Assumptions,
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Minutes by Erin Nye