This document summarizes an early childhood conference workshop about Michigan's early intervention system called Early On. It describes Early On's purpose to support infant and toddler development, eligibility criteria including developmental delays or established medical conditions, required evaluation and assessment processes, and the individualized family services planning process. Signs of potential developmental delays that warrant making a referral to Early On are also outlined at 6 month, 12 month, 18 month, and 24 month benchmarks.

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