II. Overview of the Early Intervention Program (continued)
Within the Department of Human Services, several other offices are key partners to Part C EI’s success. The Office of Medical Assistance oversees Medicaid, a key source of financing for Part C EI services. The Office of Children, Youth, and Families has responsibility under federal law to engage in a process that ensures referral of children under age 3 who have a substantiated case of child abuse and neglect. The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services plays a role in structuring mental health services for infants and toddlers, as well as for their caregivers. The Office of Developmental Programs administers Medicaid waiver programs for home and community-based services and makes other policy and practice decisions that affect the lives of young children with disabilities. Multiple child and family service systems must work in concert to assure that each infant and toddler‘s health, developmental, mental health, safety, and other needs are met. In particular, successful delivery of Part C EI services to address the risks and needs of infants and toddlers requires clear communication, interaction and linkages among service systems driven by each child and family’s needs as identified in the IFSP. As shown in Figure 6, at least five key child service systems contribute to the success of the Part C EI program. The Part C EI service providers themselves play a dominant and central role. Health care providers—including birthing hospitals, neonatal intensive care units and pediatric primary care providers—are central points of broad contact in screening and referring children to Part C EI. Since many infants and toddlers spend time in
Figure 6. Service Systems Supporting Early Intervention
Early Care & Education
Part C Early Intervention
Infant-Early Childhood
Mental Health
Health Care
Child Welfare
early care and education settings such as child care, close partnership with EI providers is also essential for success in promoting optimal development. For some young children with mental health conditions or risks that fall both inside and outside of Part C EI service structures, collaboration between Part C EI and infant-early childhood mental health providers may be necessary. Last but not least, child welfare systems and providers must be linked to and work in collaboration with EI providers since infants and toddlers experiencing child abuse and neglect are at high risk for developmental delays. Federal law requires processes for referral to Part C for children with substantiated child abuse and neglect.
June 2022
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