1.
“Don’t Worry. But Don’t Wait.”
Welcome to the 2011 UPECC
Early Childhood Conference
Stefanie Rathburn,
Training & Technical
Assistance Specialist
Workshop Session VI:
Saturday, April 16th, 2011
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

2.
Learning Objectives
1. Learn about Michigan's
early intervention
system, Early On®
2. How to make a referral
3. Red flags of development

3.
Organizational Structure
OFFICE OF INNOVATIVE PROJECTS
Early On® Training & Technical Assistance
• Personnel development for Early On
Pre-Service
• Early On Center for Higher Education
Early On Public Awareness
• Child find for Infants and Toddlers (Birth to age 3)
Project Find
• Child find for special education (0 to 26)
619 Training and Technical Assistance
• Early Childhood Special Education Focus 3 to 5

4.
What is Early On®
• A statewide system of early intervention
services mandated by federal legislation
(Part C of IDEA)
• Part C = birth to 3 years
• Part B = 3 to 21 years
• Designed to help families find the social,
health and educational services that will
promote the development of their infants
and toddlers with special needs
• Based on partnerships between families
and service providers and on collaboration
among community agencies, organizations
and private practitioners;
• Emphasizes early identification and early
services

5.
Purpose of Part C
• To enhance the development
of infants and toddlers;
• To reduce costs to our
society;
• To maximize the potential of
individuals with disabilities;
• To enhance the capacity of
families…;
• To enhance the capacity of
states…

6.
Structure of Part C in Michigan
U.S. Congress - IDEA
US Dept of Education -Office of Special Education Programs
Michigan Interagency
Michigan State Board of Education Coordinating Council (MICC)
Major Grantees:
Michigan Department • Qualitative Compliance
Michigan Michigan
Department Department of Education Information Project
• Early On Training &
of of Office of Early Childhood Technical Assistance
Community Human
Health Services Education & Family Services • EO Public Awareness
• MI Alliance for Families/
(MDCH) (DHS) (MDE) Parent Training &
Information
• Interagency Information
Local Service Areas/ Systems
• Inter-Tribal Council of
Public Community Intermediate School Districts Michigan
Health Mental (57) • MI Compliance Info System
Health (funded by Part B)
Early On Coordinators
Local Interagency
Coordinating Council (LICC)

7.
Early On Services Are:
• Strength(s) based
• Family Centered
• Based on parent/
professional partnerships
• Based on interagency
collaboration

8.
Early On® is a System of Services
Health
Services Physicians Insurance
Hospitals
Early Head Start
Social Services
Early Intervention &
Mental Health Educational
Services
Children's Special
Health Care
Health
Easter Seals Department
Child Care

9.
Eligibility for Early On® Services
• Any infant or toddler with an established condition
(i.e., a physical or mental condition likely to lead to
a delay)
• Developmental Delay
• Under 2 months of age - any delay
• 2 to 36 months of age - 20% in one or more areas
• Change in Eligibility Began July 2010

10.
Established Conditions
Established Conditions: Children with established conditions are those from birth through age
two who have a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in a
developmental delay.
Categories of Established Conditions:
• Congenital Anomalies
• Chromosomal Anomalies
• Infectious Conditions
• Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders
• Other Diseases
• Hearing Deficiency
• Other Fetal/Placental Anomalies
• Exposures Affecting Fetus
• Chronic Illness
• Developmental Disorders
• Mental Health Conditions

11.
Delay in 1 of more of the categories:
• Physical (including hearing and vision)
• Gross and Fine Motor Development
• Communication Development
• Cognitive Development
• Social/Emotional Development
• Adaptive (self-help)

12.
What is the Early On® timeline?
• Parental Notification
– Within 10 days of referral
• Evaluation and Assessment
– Within 45 days
• Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)
– Within 60 days
• Transition
– Up to nine months before exit
– Minimum of 90 days before exit

13.
Parent Notification
• When first contact is made to parents, they need to know 3
things
1. What is Early On?
2. Family rights (procedural safeguards)
3. A description of the consent that they must give in order
for the child to be evaluated
• Consent to evaluate form
• Authorization to share form (updated every six months)
• Every family receives at no charge
1. Evaluation and assessment
2. Service coordination
3. Development of an IFSP

14.
Developmental Evaluation
• Two people (or more) from different
professions or disciplines
– Consists of 5 parts
• Cognitive Development
• Physical Development, including vision and hearing,
gross and fine motor
• Communication Development
• Social or Emotional Development
• Adaptive Development
• Parent input should be considered in all areas

15.
Health Appraisal
• Obtain information about past and current
health
– Physical Examination
• By doctor, nurse, or nurse practitioner
• Must be conducted within:
– 3 months for a child 18 months or under
– 6 months for a child over 18 months

16.
Individual Family Service Plan
• The IFSP meeting will include:
– Results of the evaluation
– Concerns of the parents
– Outcomes desired by the parents for their child
– Outcomes in natural environments and daily routines
– Supports needed by the family
– Early intervention services identified to support the
outcomes

17.
Review of the Plan of Service
• Every Six-Months or sooner a Review of the
IFSP outcomes must be evaluated
• At least every 12 months a new IFSP is
developed
• Up to nine months before a child turns three
years of age a transition planning meeting is
held

18.
Services Provided by Early On®
• Assistive Technology • Speech Therapy
Services • Physical Therapy
• Audiology Services • Special Instruction
• Family Training, • Social Work
Counseling & Home • Psychological
Visits Services
• Nursing Services • Health Services
• Nutrition Services • Service Coordination
• Occupational • Transportation
Therapy • Vision Services

19.
When to Make a Referral
• If an established condition exists, it's best
practice to share information about Early On.
• When a parent expresses concern
• When there is an identified red flag about a
child’s development

20.
Red Flags at 6 Months
• Infant not reaching for objects
• Not yet rolling over from stomach to back
• Does not make eye contact
• Does not laugh or squeal
* (see handout for additional information about typical
development and red flags for children birth to 48
months of age)

21.
Red Flags at Twelve Months
• Persistent mouthing of objects
• Excessive self-stimulation
• Cannot stand when supported
• Uses only one side of body
• Not transferring objects from one hand to the other
• Not looking for hidden objects
• Not using single words
• Does not use gestures, i.e., waving, pointing, or shaking
head

22.
Red Flags at 18 Months
• Not walking independently
• Walks on tiptoes
• Excessive rocking
• Withdrawn
• Does not respond to simple requests
• Little or no social engagement
• Does not point or try to indicate wants

23.
Red Flags at 24 Months
• Inability to walk up and down stairs
• Any regression of skills
• No two word phrases
• Persistent poor transitions
• Does not show affection
• Does not know and point to 5 body parts

24.
Discussing Potential Referral
• Discuss concern(s) with parent
• If they share concern(s), proceed with a referral.
If not – what to do?
• Provide opportunities to observe similar age children
• Provide information about developmentally appropriate
behaviors
• Keep log of identified concern(s) to share with parents
• Remind parent about the benefits of Early On, input from
specific disciplines
• Provide an Early On brochure to parent

25.
How to Make a Referral
1. Visit www.1800EarlyOn.org
2. Call 1-800-EARLY ON (327-5966)
3. Fax 1-517-668-0446
4. Contact your local county Early On directly

26.
1800EarlyOn.org

27.
ProjectFindMichigan.org (3-25)

28.
Order Public Awareness Products
Growth Charts
Brochures & Bookmarks
Magnets

29.
Bookmark These Websites
1-800-EARLY ON
1800EarlyOn.org
1-800-252-0052
ProjectFindMichigan.org
1-866-334-KIDS
eotta.ccresa.org
http://www.facebook.com/earlyonmichigan