Tuesday, November 17, 2009

BabyNet Transition to First Steps


Review the full report complied by six technical teams. This report includes statewide input from persons interested in the SC early intervention programming, including parents of children with disabilities, educators, therapy providers, and other professionals. This report will be used to assist with the lead agency transition of the SC Part C early intervention program (BabyNet). Post any comments regarding the general report in this area. If you are interested in reviewing the compiled report of the six technical teams click on the following: Final Technical Team Combined Report

Note: Additional areas are available for comments regarding the work of specific technical team sections.

Report for Technical Team A


Eligibility Definition, Evaluation and IFSP Service Coordination.  This technical team reviewed the following Part C minimum components and Annual Performance Review (APR) indicators.


Part C Minimum Components:
1.  A rigorous definition of the term “developmental delay”
3. Timely and comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation of needs of children and family-directed identification of the needs of each family.

APR Indicators: 
4. Percent of families participating in Part C who report that early intervention services have helped the family:A. Know their rights;B. Effectively communicate their children's needs; andC. Help their children develop and learn.
7. Percent of eligible infants and toddlers with IFSPs for whom an evaluation and assessment and an initial IFSP meeting were conducted within Part C’s 45-day timeline.

Conveners:
Lynda Smith, SC School for the Deaf and Blind
Ann Barton, Health Tracks

Staff:
Stephanie Hicklin, USC Center for Disability Resources

If you are interested in reviewing team's full report click on the following: Technical Team A Final Report

Report for Technical Team B


Public Awareness, Child Find, and Central Directory. This technical team reviewed the following Part C minimum components and Annual Performance Review (APR) indicators.

Part C Minimum Components:
5. Comprehensive child find and referral system
6. Public awareness program including the preparation and
dissemination of information to be given to parents, and
disseminating such information to parents.
7. Central directory of services, resources, and research and
demonstration projects.

APR Indicators:
5. Percent of infants and toddlers birth to 1 with IFSPs compared to:
A. Other States with similar eligibility definitions; and
B. National data.
6. Percent of infants and toddlers birth to 3 with IFSPs compared to:
A. Other States with similar

Conveners:
Jackie Richards, Family Connection
James Ella Collins, Charleston County First Steps
Tim Ervolina, United Way of SC

Staff:
Suzan Albright, USC Center for Disability Resources

If you are interested in reviewing team's full report click on the following: Technical Team B Final Report

Report for Technical Team C


Comprehensive System of Personnel Development.  This technical team reviewed the following Part C minimum components and Annual Performance Review (APR) indicators.


Part C Minimum Components:
8. Comprehensive system of personnel development,
    including the training of paraprofessionals and
    the training of primary referral sources.
9. Policies and procedures to ensure that personnel
    are appropriately and adequately prepared and trained

APR Indicators:
9. General supervision system (including monitoring, complaints,
     hearings, etc.) identifies and corrects noncompliance as soon
     as possible but in no case later than one year from identification.

Conveners:
Dr. Vivian Correa, Clemson University
Dr. Bill Brown, University of South Carolina

Staff:
Kristie Musick, USC Center for Disability Resources

If you are interested in reviewing team's full report click on the following: Technical Team C Final Report

Report for Technical Team D



Interagency and General Supervision.  This technical team reviewed the following Part C minimum components and Annual Performance Review (APR) indicators.
 
Part C Minimum Components:
10. Single line of authority in a lead agency designated or
      established by the governor for carrying out:
         a. General administration and supervision
         b. Identification and coordination of available resources
         c. Assignment of financial responsibility to the appropriate
             agencies
         d. Development of procedures to ensure that services are
             provided in a timely manner, pending resolution of any
             disputes
         e. Resolution of intra-and interagency disputes

11. Policy pertaining to contracting or otherwise arranging for
      services.

12. Procedure for securing timely reimbursement of funds.

13. Procedural safeguards.

14. System for compiling data on the early intervention system.
  
APR Indicators:
9. General supervision system (including monitoring, complaints, hearings, etc.) identifies and corrects noncompliance as soon as possible but in no case later than one year from identification.

10. Percent of signed written complaints with reports issued that were resolved within 60-day timeline or a timeline extended for exceptional circumstances with respect to a particular complaint.

11. Percent of fully adjudicated due process hearing requests that were fully adjudicated within the applicable timeline.

12. Percent of hearing requests that went to resolution sessions that were resolved through resolution session settlement agreements.

13. Percent of mediations held that resulted in mediation agreements.

14. State reported data (618 and State Performance Plan and Annual Performance Report) are timely and accurate.
  
Conveners:
Craig Stoxen, South Carolina Autism Society
Brenda Martin, DHEC
Dr. Dan Wuori, South Carolina First Steps

Staff:
Dr. Sharon Ringwalt, NECTAC
Dr. Rich Lewis, Mid-South Regional Resource Center
Kristie Musick, USC Center for Disability Resources

If you are interested in reviewing team's full report click on the following:  Technical Team D Final Report

Report for Technical Team E


Appropriate, Research-Based Early Intervention and Natural Environments.  This technical team reviewed the following Part C minimum components and Annual Performance Review (APR) indicators.
 

Part C Minimum Components:
2. Appropriate early intervention services based on scientifically based research, to the extent practicable, are
available to all infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families, including Indian and homeless infants and toddlers.

4. Individualized family service plan and service coordination.

16. Policies and procedures to ensure that to the maximum extent appropriate, early intervention services are provided in natural environments except when early intervention cannot be achieved satisfactorily in a natural environment.


APR Indicators:
1.   Percent of infants and toddlers with individualized family service plans (IFSPs) who receive the early intervention services on their IFSPs in a timely manner.

2.  Percent of infants and toddlers with IFSPs who primarily receive early intervention services in the home or programs for typically developing children.

3.  Percent of infants and toddlers with IFSPs who demonstrate improved: A. Positive social-emotional skills (including social relationships); B. Acquisition and use of knowledge and skills (including early language/communication);C. Use of appropriate behaviors to meet their needs.

4.  Percent of families participating in Part C who report that early intervention services have helped the family:A. Know their rights;B. Effectively communicate their children's needs; andC. Help their children develop and learn.

8.  Percent of all children exiting Part C who received timely transition planning to support the child’s transition to preschool and other appropriate community services by their third birthday including:A. IFSPs with transition steps and services; B. Notification to LEA, if child potentially eligible for Part B; andC. Transition conference, if child potentially eligible for Part B.

Conveners:
Jennifer Buster, DDSN
Danielle Varnadoe, University of South Carolina
Cindy Seagle, Spartanburg County First Steps

Staff:
Lily Nalty, Center for Disability Resources
Dr. Lesly Wilson, USC Center for Disability Resources

If you are interested in reviewing team's full report click on the following:  Technical Team E Final Report

Report for Technical Team F


Inter-Agency Coordinating Council.  This technical team reviewed the following Part C minimum components and Annual Performance Review (APR) indicators.


Part C Minimum Components:
15. State inter-agency coordinating council

APR Indicators:
9.General supervision system (including monitoring, complaints, hearings, etc.) identifies and corrects noncompliance as soon as possible but in no case later than one year from identification. 

Conveners:
Dr. Danny Varat, I.C.C.
Laurie Hafner, I.C.C.


Staff:
Dr. Richard Ferrante, USC Center for Disability Resources

If you are interested in reviewing team's full report click on the following:  Technical Team F Final Report