1. “Don’t Worry. But Don’t Wait.”
Victoria Meeder,
Public Awareness Supervisor
&
Stefanie Rathburn,
Training & TA Specialist
MiAEYC Annual
Early Childhood Conference
March 25th, 2010
10:45 am - 12 noon

2. Learning Objectives
1. Learn about
Michigan's early
intervention system,
Early On®
2. How to make referrals
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 ed. (0 to 26 yr's.)

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
United States Congress
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
US Dept of Education
Office of Special Education Programs
Michigan Interagency
Michigan State Board of Education
Coordinating Council (MICC)
MI Dept. MI Dept. Major Grantees:
of of Michigan Department of Education • Qualitative Compliance
Office of Early Childhood Information Project
Comm. Human • Early On Training &
Health Services Education & Family Services Technical Assistance
• EO Public Awareness
• MI Alliance for Families
• MI Compliance Info System
Dept of Comm. (funded by Part B)
Public Mental Local Service Areas/
Intermediate School Districts Local Interagency
Health Health
(57) Coordinating Council (LICC)
Early On Coordinators

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 Insurance
Services Physicians
Hospitals
Social Services Early Head Start
Early
Intervention
Children's Special Services
Mental Health
Health Care
Health
Child Care Dept.
Easter Seals

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)
• Any infant or toddler with a developmental delay
• Change in Eligibility Beginning July 2010
• Up to 2 Months of Age Any Delay Will Qualify
• 2 to 36 Months of Age 20% Delay Required

10. Established Conditions
• Chromosomal anomaly/genetic disorders (e.g. Down
syndrome)
• Neurological disorders (e.g., cerebral palsy)
• Congenital malformations (e.g., heart or cleft lip)
• Inborn errors of metabolism
• Sensory disorders
• Atypical developmental disorders (e.g., autism)
• Severe toxic exposure (e.g., alcohol or drug exposed)
• Chronic illnesses (e.g., cystic fibrosis)
• Severe infectious diseases

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, Counseling • Social Work
& Home Visits • Psychological
• Nursing Services Services
• Nutrition Services • Health Services
• Occupational Therapy • Service
Coordination
• Transportation
• 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, e.g., 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 Place 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

28. Join Early On Michigan On Facebook

29. Follow Our Twitter Tweets
http://twitter.com/ChildFindMich

30. Order Public Awareness Products
Developmental
Brochures & Bookmarks Wheels
Growth Charts
Magnets

31. Thank You for Attending
1-800-EARLY ON
1800EarlyOn.org
1-800-252-0052
ProjectFindMichigan.org
1-866-334-KIDS
eotta.ccresa.org