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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEI-115 Interagency 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: Interagency Agreement PROCEDURE NUMBER: EI-115 Effective: March 9, 2013 Date Revised: October 7, 2020 References: - Act 212-1990 § 104 - IDEA 34 CFR §303.301-303 and §300.311 - Title 55 PA Code §4226.24 and §4226.34 - Title 22 PA Code §14.121 and §14.152 - Announcement: EI-09 #13 Childfind System Including Children who are Wards of the State, Children Living in Residential Facilities, Children who were abused and Children who are Homeless - Announcement: EI-10 #04 Operational Guidance for Infant/Toddler Programs Regarding Children Living in Residential Facilities - Announcement: EI-12 #02 Updates to Early Intervention Policy Based on Requirements in IDEA Part C Regulations - Announcement: EI-13 #01 Children Experiencing Homelessness - Announcement: DS-03 Inclusion of All Children in Early Childhood Programs in Pennsylvania - Announcement: EI-17 #02 Reduction of Expulsion and Suspension in Early Childhood Programs in Pennsylvania POLICY: Franklin/Fulton Early Intervention Program has an interagency agreement that includes the following: Signatory to the Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC) include Franklin/Fulton MH/IDD/EI, the Intermediate Units for Franklin and Fulton Counties, the local Early Head Start/Head Start programs, and the Department of Health agency. Other signatories may include Early Intervention providers and other community agencies who participate with the LICC. The LICC in both Counties try to establish working relationships that will increase efficiency and effectiveness for Early Intervention services, reflect a continuum of coordinated and 2 comprehensive services that maximize the use of fiscal and personnel resources to meet the unique needs of families and children with disabilities. The LICC also implements coordinated service delivery through The Local Interagency Agreement. The Local Interagency Agreement is signed each year after a review and prior to the beginning of a new fiscal year. Historically this has been June of each year, Franklin/Fulton Early Intervention Program supports the LICC through shared staff and resources, interagency planning and implementation, and joint staff training. There are planned periodic meetings to discuss the LICC agreement. Discussion also occurs regarding the Risk and Reach report as well as the Family Survey results. In-service sessions are planned based on topics of interest for all parties involved. Careful attention and planning are employed that reflect interagency and interdisciplinary coordination of services. Inclusion of young children begins at birth and continues throughout a child’s life in early childhood programs, school and adulthood. Inclusion for young children addresses their participation in home, school or community environments. The goal of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is that high-quality early childhood education (ECE) programs are inclusive of children with disabilities. Franklin/Fulton Early Intervention program, along with families, Early Intervention providers, ECE providers, the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) and other community partners, will work to assure that all children are included in Early Childhood Programs. This will include, but is not limited to, professional development opportunities, collaboration with families and ECE program staff to review and modify existing policies, practices and procedures to ensure barriers are removed that would prevent including children with disabilities, develop and strengthen partnerships between ECE programs and the Early Intervention program, and develop resources for effective communication between families and ECE program staff to ensure families know the benefits of and their rights related to inclusion. Expulsions and suspensions occur at high rates in preschool settings and are associated with negative educational and life outcomes. Expulsion and suspension does nothing to teach appropriate behavior and denies children the opportunity to access the benefits of an Early Childhood program. Franklin/Fulton Early Intervention program, along with families, Early Intervention providers and community partners, will work to assure that all children and families are supported in Early Childhood programs to reduce suspension and expulsion. Additionally, in collaboration with Early Childhood program staff and families, Franklin/Fulton Early Intervention program and community partners will help Early Childhood programs develop policies that will address staff implementation of positive behavior strategies, provide resources and training assistance to Early Childhood program staff and provide additional individualized support and services to children and families who are eligible for Early Intervention services. Franklin/Fulton Early Intervention Program Specialist and the Service Coordination Supervisor participate in the LICC. The service coordinators, when they are able to attend, help to identify priority areas and also report any ideas or concern that family have shared. The Franklin and Fulton Local Interagency Coordinating Council reviews and revises the interagency Childfind plan annually. 3 A well-formed interagency agreement will establish foreseeable guidelines, enlist clearly defined procedures that are to be followed and clearly define the roles and responsibilities of the participating agencies and/or individuals. Additionally, these agreements will acknowledge the unique quality of services for children birth to five (5) years; a) the location (rural, urban), b) value cultural diversity and differences, c) the role of family in planning, coordination and implementation of activities, d) individual and developmentally appropriate services, e) collaboration of smooth transitions and, f) comprehensive evaluation/review of the program models/coordinated services. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in its 2004 reauthorization strengthened requirements for the referral, identification and evaluation of all eligible children, specifically children who are homeless; in foster care and wards of the state; have been the subject of a substantiated case of abuse or neglect; identified as directly affected by illegal substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure; and Indian infants/toddlers with disabilities and their families residing on a reservation geographically located in the State. Local Infant/Toddler Early Intervention programs have the proactive responsibility for all children, including the populations mentioned, to identify children eligible for Early Intervention services and to ensure that potentially eligible children are evaluated and receive needed Early Intervention services in a timely manner and that families receive the procedural protections available through the Early Intervention system. The comprehensive Childfind system shall be an effective and coordinated effort by local Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Programs, as well as the other agencies responsible for administering various education, health, and social service programs. In addition to the agencies identified in §4226.24(b) (1-6), Local Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Programs shall coordinate Childfind efforts with the following:  Local County Children and Youth Agencies;  Child care programs;  Programs that provide services under the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (42 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) such as programs preventing family violence and family domestic shelters;  Department of Health Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) systems;  Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP);  Other State or Federally funded early childhood or home visiting programs. The Franklin and Fulton Local Interagency Coordinating Council through their Childfind system is coordinated and non-duplicative of the programs that follow: Infant, Toddler or Preschool Early Intervention Programs The Early Intervention Program including infants/toddlers/preschool children from birth to school age who may have a developmental delay. The programs work closely with their Head Start partners and Early Head Start partners to collaboratively work with families to ensure a smooth transition from one program to the next. Transition from Early Intervention to Preschool is spelled out and worked through our LICC Agreement. 4 Maternal and Child Health Programs The Maternal and Child Health Program is a Title V program that is focused on implementing systems that address the specific health needs of children. Currently this program is functioning in Franklin County, but not in Fulton County. In Fulton County, the Nutritionist from the Fulton County Medical Center works with children through the Fulton County Family Partnership. Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Programs Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting supports pregnant women and families and helps at-risk parents of children from birth to Kindergarten entry tap the resources and hone the skills they need to raise children who are physically, socially and emotionally healthy and ready to learn. These programs improve maternal and child health, prevents child abuse and neglect, encourage positive parenting, and promote child development and school readiness. This is not a program that is currently offered in Franklin or Fulton County. Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Training (EPSDT) The LICC in both counties collaborate extensively to ensure that children benefit from screenings, immunizations and the extensive benefits of EPSDT. States are required to provide comprehensive services and furnish all Medicaid coverable, appropriate, and medically necessary services needed to correct and ameliorate health conditions, based on certain federal guidelines. The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit provides comprehensive and preventive health care services for children under age 21 who are enrolled in Medicaid. EPSDT is key to ensuring that children and adolescents receive appropriate preventive, dental, mental health, and developmental, and specialty services. Early Assessing and identifying problems early Periodic Checking children's health at periodic, age-appropriate intervals Screening Providing physical, mental, developmental, dental, hearing, vision, and other screening tests to detect potential problems Diagnostic Performing diagnostic tests to follow up when a risk is identified, and Treatment Control, correct or reduce health problems found. Head Start and Early Head Start Programs Early Head Start works closely with the Early Intervention Program to make referrals. Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the mental, social, and emotional development of children from birth to age five (5) years. In addition to education services, the programs provide children and their families with health, nutrition, social, and other services. 5 Head Start services are responsive to each child and family's ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage. Head Start encourages the role of parents as their child's first and most important teachers. Programs build relationships with families that support positive parent-child relationships, family well-being, and connections to peers and community. Head Start began as a program for preschoolers, ages three (3) and four (4) years old, which made up over 80 percent of the children served by Head Start last year. Early Head Start serves pregnant women, infants, and toddlers. Early Head Start programs are available to the family until the child turns three (3) years old and is ready to transition into Head Start or another Pre-K program. Early Head Start helps families care for their infants/toddlers through early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive services. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) The Supplemental Security Income (SSI); program is used for those infants/toddlers who are diagnosed with a physical or mental disability. SSI supplements the money families may need for their child’s medical and physical needs and is non-duplicative. Service Coordinators may often assist families in applying for SSI benefits for an infant/toddler. This is a most important program for all of the providers in both counties. Helping families through the application process is a collaboration that all provider share along with the families. Child Protection and Child Welfare Programs Including Foster Care The LICC in both Counties collaborate with Children Services. This is a benefit to families who may not even realize they need help. The LICC works to ensure that families get a very positive presentation of what the service can provide. The Department’s Child Welfare Program works in partnership with local communities, courts and tribes to ensure the safety, timely permanency and well-being of children. The people, who work in the Child Welfare Program conduct, supervise and administer programs for dependent children and their families. Child Welfare Program services are directed toward these goals:  The prevention of separation of children from their families.  The protection of children alleged to be dependent or dependent children including provision of emergency and long-term alternate living arrangements.  The reunification of families who have had children placed in foster homes or institutions.  The permanent placement of children who cannot be reunited with their families or when reunification would not be in the best interest of the child.  The transition to self-sufficiency for older children who continue to be in foster care as adolescents. 6  The preparation of young adults that exit foster care at age 18 to make the transition to self-sufficiency as adults. Early Learning Programs The goal for early learning is to improve the health, social-emotional, and cognitive outcomes for all children from birth through 3rd grade, so that all children, particularly those with high needs, are on track for graduation from high school/college, and ready to begin a career. To enhance the quality of programs and services and improve outcomes for young children, including children with disabilities and those who are English Learners, the department administers programs and promotes initiatives that increase access to high-quality programs, improve the early learning workforce, and build state capacity to support high-quality programs and ensure program effectiveness. Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRC) were created to improve the quality of and access to early learning services in the state and help families identify the best child care option that meet the needs of the child(ren). ELRCs provide a single point-of-contact for families, early learning service providers and communities to gain information and access services that support high- quality childcare and early learning programs. The LICC collaborates with ELRC staff to provide resources and support to families and the community. Programs under the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act This is not a duplicated service and there is a need for increased collaboration in both counties. The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) provides the primary federal funding stream dedicated to the support of emergency shelter and supportive services for victims of domestic violence and their dependents. Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Systems The LICC has provided brochures and information to families regarding EHDI and efforts for outreach continue. The Public Health Service Act was expanded to provide programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing newborns and infants to include young children. Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP): The LICC in both counties provides brochures and pamphlets at various locations throughout the counties ensuring families that their child can get low price affordable coverage. Children who are without health insurance may be able to get low cost or free health coverage from the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or Children’s Medicaid. Both programs cover office visits, prescription drugs, dental care, eye exams, glasses, and much more. 7 Families with children who get Children’s Medicaid pay nothing and children with CHIP pay no more than $50 a year for health care coverage. Some families with CHIP may also have co-pays for some services. The Franklin and Fulton County Local Interagency Coordinating Councils will continue to make efforts to be aware and involved in collaboration efforts with all service providers and resources. The Local Interagency Coordinating Councils in both counties will evaluate all policies and procedures relating to the Interagency Agreement. The agreements will be reviewed annually or sooner when changes or updates are released. Special consideration will be focused on Childfind activities and working on collaboration with all service providers in the Counties. Families will be encouraged to be part of the LICC in both Counties.