Early Intervention

  
Community Connections, Inc (CCI) is the Community Centered Board serving Montezuma, Dolores, La Plata, Archuleta and San Juan counties. CCI has two Early Intervention programs: San Juan Kids (serving La Plata, Archuleta and San Juan counties) and Southwest Kids (serving Montezuma and Dolores counties).

Community Connections’ Early Intervention programs can help families support and promote a child’s development within family activities and community life. San Juan Kids and Southwest Kids connect families with early intervention services, such as occupational, speech or physical therapy to help infants and toddlers grow and develop and help their families in this process. They are voluntary programs and do not discriminate based on race, culture, religion, income level, or disability.

The term “early” is important because research shows that the first three years are the most important time for learning in a child's life. Providing developmental supports and services through early intervention improves a child's ability to develop and learn. Also, it may prevent or decrease the need for special help later. The goal of early intervention in Colorado is to “open a window of opportunity” for families to help their children with special needs develop to their full potential. The purpose of Colorado’s Early Intervention system is to provide supports for children from birth through two years of age who have special developmental needs.

The Colorado Department of Human Services, Division for Developmental Disabilities www.cdhs.state.co.us/ddd/ administers the Early Intervention System and the Early Intervention Colorado program (link below) in Colorado and contracts with twenty Community Centered Boards statewide to provide early intervention supports and services to infants, toddlers, and their families within their communities. To find the Community Centered Board serving your area you can call 1-888-777-4041 or go to this link: http://www.earlychildhoodconnections.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=contactus.main

First Steps

Step 1: Make a referral
Anyone can make a referral to Colorado's Early Intervention system including doctors, childcare providers, neighbors, or family members. However, the family’s consent to continue in the process of accessing supports and services is required.

An infant or toddler should be referred if they have:

A suspected significant developmental delay in one or more developmental area(s): cognitive, adaptive, communication, social/emotional, and/or physical (including vision, hearing)

A diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in a significant developmental delay:
Click this link to access a regularly updated list: http://www.earlychildhoodconnections.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=diagnoses.print&status=1,2

Click here to make a referral outside of Colorado http://www.nectac.org/contact/ptccoord.asp

Step 2: Get a free evaluation

1. When there are concerns about a child’s development, he or she is referred to an Early Intervention Program like Community Connections’ Southwest Kids (for Montezuma and Dolores counties) or San Juan Kids (for La Plata, San Juan, and Archuleta counties).

2. The Service Coordinator contacts the family and together they establish a time to meet and assess the needs of the child.

3. A home visit (or any place in the community the family chooses) takes place. At this initial meeting the role of the Service Coordinator is to establish a relationship with the family as the main contact person for all questions and concerns, to introduce the family to the available supports and services, to help assess the child’s development and to advise the family of their legal rights and entitlements.

4. An evaluation of the child’s development is completed by the appropriate therapist: physical, occupational, speech, etc., who meet with the family. Usually a child will be evaluated by 2 different disciplines to see the overall development of a child. The family is always involved in the evaluation process because the family members are the ones who know the child best.

Step 3: Determining if the child is eligible for services
An infant or toddler may receive early intervention services if: the family lives in Colorado; the child is under 3 years of age; the child meets the eligibility criteria for Colorado's Early Intervention system

The eligibility criteria are:

1. Children birth to three years of age with a significant delay in development in one or more areas of development are eligible (children who are believed to be delayed in one or more of these areas will need to have an evaluation to determine initial eligibility). Areas of development are:

Babbling / Talking (communication) 
Moving around (physical / motor) 
Hearing / Vision (sensory) 
Play Skills / Learning (cognition) 
Behavioral concerns / Interacting with others (social emotional) 
Self-Help Skills (adaptive development)

2. Children birth to three years of age with a diagnosed physical or medical condition that is typically associated with delays in development are eligible.  Children with such conditions are eligible even when they are not exhibiting delays in development at the time of diagnosis, and do not need to have an evaluation to determine eligibility - they are eligible because of their diagnoses.  Examples of such conditions include:

Chromosomal syndromes and conditions (such as Down Syndrome, Fragile X, Chromosomal deletions and duplications)
Congenital syndromes and conditions (such as Spina Bifida, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Central Nervous System malformations)
Sensory impairments (like hearing or visual impairments)
Metabolic disorders (such as hypothyroidism [untreated], Lipidoses)
Prenatal and perinatal infections resulting in significant medical problems (like HIV, intrauterine exposure to toxic substances, Cerebral Palsy, Meningitis)
Low birth weight infants weighing less than 1,200 grams (less than 2 lbs., 10oz.)
Postnatal acquired problems resulting in delays in development (including severe attachment disorder)

Step 4: Creating a Plan Together

After the evaluation, if the child is determined to be eligible, a meeting is set to complete the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). This is a form to be completed by the family, the service coordinator, the therapist(s), and sometimes the director of Community Connections—for funding purposes. The purpose of this IFSP is to establish guidelines and goals with the family for a six month period with subsequent reviews of goals every six months thereafter, until the child turns three. Whenever there is a question, simply phone your Service Coordinator at Community Connections.

Once the child reaches their third birthday, if they still require services they will transition to services with their local Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). Community Connections is involved to assist and support families with this transition.

At any given time a family has the right to decline services or request that things are done to their satisfaction. Link to BASIC RIGHTS

Everyone involved is working together to be supportive of children and their families and the services available are free of charge, regardless of income. 


Early Intervention Colorado

Part C of IDEA

Having a baby who has special needs entitles a family to certain supports, services and rights under the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  In this federal law, the section that guarantees supports and services for children under three years of age is called Part C, and is known in Colorado as "Early Intervention Colorado".

The intent of Part C of IDEA and Early Intervention Coloradois to enhance the development of infants and toddlers who have developmental delays by enabling families to enhance the development of their children in their home and community.

Early Intervention Colorado represents a broad array of supports, services, and resources available in Colorado for infants and toddlers and their families.  The Colorado Department of Human Services, with the guidance of the Colorado Interagency Coordinating Council, is responsible for implementing a statewide, comprehensive, and coordinated system of early intervention supports and services for all infants and toddlers with special needs.  Other state agencies with responsibility for Early Intervention Colorado are the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the Colorado Department of Education, Child Welfare and Child Care Services, and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

 www.eicolorado.org/index.cfm

 Basic Rights for Families under Part C of IDEA

1. Informed Consent
You must give your permission before anyone provides any early intervention services for your child. If your child needs early intervention services, you should be provided as much information as you need to make a decision. Ask questions until you understand so that you can make the best decision possible.

2. Information in your Native Language
All spoken and written information must be given to you in the language that you usually speak.

3. Evaluation
A team of qualified professionals will help you look at how your child is developing, whether or not your child is eligible for the public Part C program and what the most important needs of your baby and family are right now.

4. Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)
A planning team of professionals, including you and other family members, will develop a plan to identify the most important supports and services that your child and your family need right now. This plan is voluntary, but if you want it done, it should be completed within 45 days after you first ask for help.

5. Service Coordination
There should be one person to help you and your family arrange all of the services and supports that you need. You should be able to call this person whenever you have questions or have identified additional needs.

6. Service Provision in Natural Environments
When the planning team agrees on what services will be provided for your child or your family to meet identified outcomes, those services should be provided in the context of your everyday routines, activities and places.

7. Transition Planning
Your service coordinator should help you to plan for a smooth transition into appropriate supports and services when your child turns 3. This planning should begin at least six months before your child's 3rd birthday.

8. Timeliness of Services
An evaluation and IFSP must be completed within 45 days of when you first ask. Services should begin right away after the IFSP is written. Your IFSP should be reviewed at least every six months. Planning for transition should begin six months before your child turns age 3.

9.  Right to Decline Services
If you do not want a service that is offered by the IFSP team, you may decline to participate in that service. This should not prevent you from receiving any other services that are offered.

10. Confidentiality
All of the information that agencies collect about you and your child must be kept private. You must give permission in order for information to be shared from one agency to another.

11. Access to Records
You have the right to review and have copies of any records that are kept about your child and family. If you think that information in a record is inaccurate, you may ask to have it changed or you may add new information of your own.

12. Dispute Resolution
Mediation
State Complaints
Due Process hearings 

If you want a free copy of the book First Steps to Discovery published by The Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People, please call CCI at 970 560-1360.

CONTACTS 

State contacts
Early Intervention Colorado 
State Website: www.eicolorado.org/index.cfm

Division of Developmental Disabilities
JoAnne Dionese
Administrative Assistant
303-866-7263
JoAnne.Dionese@state.co.us

General Information, Web site, CICC Support
Ardith Ferguson
Part C Program Coordinator
303-866-7657
Ardith.Ferguson@state.co.us

Fiscal and Program Management, MOU
Colleen Head
Community Coordinator
303-866-7262
Colleen.Head@state.co.us

Child Identification and Transition, Technical Assistance to Early Intervention Colorado Programs, Funding Hierarchy, Child Welfare Initiatives, Procedural Safeguards Complaint Officer
Stacey Kennedy
Public Awareness Coordinator
303-866-7250
Stacey.Kennedy@state.co.us

Referral and Identification including Public Awareness & Other Health Initiatives, Parent Involvement and Leadership Initiatives Contact
Laura Merrill
Training Coordinator
303-866-7473
Laura.Merrill@state.co.us

Training Activities, Parent and Professional Personnel Development
Christy Scott
Program Quality Coordinator
303-866-7270
Christy.Scott@state.co.us 
Data, Monitoring, Accountability & Program Quality Contact, Results Matter - Creating Meaningful Approach to Accountability Contact

www.p2p-co.org – Parent to Parent of Colorado: One to one parent matching, Up-to-date information and referral, Listserv linking parents throughout the state, Quarterly newsletter, Resource packed website including support groups throughout the state and Parent Wisdom files.

Funding Contacts 
Please note that families must be determined eligible by the individual programs.

Medicaid
800-221-3943
303-866-3513
State health insurance for children and adults. Eligibility is based on family income and medical diagnosis.

CHP+ (Children's Health Plan+) 
800-359-1991
303-692-2960
970-247-5702 x 208
A low cost insurance plan for children who are: not eligible for Medicaid; Colorado residents; financially eligible; US citizens

SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
800-772-1213
970-247-3128
Income through Social Security for families/individuals who are financially eligible and determined disabled.

HCP (Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs)
970-247-5702 x 208 
HCP seeks to improve the health of Colorado's children by providing information and resources on financial assistance to families with children, birth to 21, living in Colorado, whose parents meet financial guidelines and whose condition is medically eligible.

Please see Community Assistance for further financial and community assistance.

Glossary of Terms and Commonly Used Acronyms

CCI- Community Connections Incorporated:  The local community centered board that provides financial support and home-based therapeutic intervention for all families, no matter the age.

Child Find - a multi-disciplinary team of providers with the responsibility of screening and evaluating all children with suspected delays, ages birth through 21 years of age.

DDD - Division for Developmental Disabilities

DHS - Department of Human services    

IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act:  The federal legislation that mandates services for children with special needs.

IEP - Individualized Education Program; plan developed for children receiving supports & services in the public schools (Part B of IDEA)

IFSP - Individualized Family Service Plan; the plan outlining supports & services for a child in Early Intervention services (Part C of IDEA)

 

Part C - the section of IDEA that covers supports and services for children birth through 3 years of age (infants and toddlers),

Part B - the section of IDEA that covers supports and services for school-age children 3-21 years of age.

Service Coordinator - the person who initially contacts the family, and assists with developing a  plan for their child and accessing available community resources; this is the person to call with any questions or concerns.

SJBOCES - San Juan Board of Cooperative Education Services:  The organization that houses Child Find (see below), and provides supports and services for children with special needs ages 3-21 within an educational setting in La Plata, San Juan and Archuleta counties.

SJK - San Juan Kids:  This is a program of Community Connections, Inc. that provides access to community supports and services for families who have children with special needs birth to three years of age in La Plata, San Juan and Archuleta counties.

SWBOCS - Southwest Board of Cooperative Services:  The organization that houses Child Find (see below), and provides supports and services for children with special needs ages 3-21 within an educational setting in Montezuma and Dolores counties.

SWK - Soutwest Kids:  This is a program of Community Connections, Inc. that provides access to community supports and services for families who have children with special needs birth to three years of age in Montezuma and Dolores counties.