Early Intervention Program Standards Plan for Education

Introduction

This agency has established an early intervention program standards plan to ensure that services furnished by its employees and contractors fully comply with applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations, and that they conform to any guidance issued by the Department that clarifies the specific obligations established by laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the Early Intervention Program.

The Program Standards Plan is not intended for submission in connection with any application, but will be available for review by the appropriate local or state authorities or their designees with oversight over early intervention programs and program personnel. The plan consists of specific provisions outlining effective policies and procedures capable of ensuring full compliance with all applicable standards and other requirements of law and public policy.

Service Availability and Family-Centered Approaches

This agency shall establish, implement, maintain, and monitor appropriate procedures and mechanisms capable of ensuring strict compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations issued by local, state, and federal government authorities. This standard also pertains to any formal guidance issued by recognized professional and other entities whose authority applies to any services furnished by this agency. Further, this standard includes specific protocols for the immediate resolution of any discovered deviation from applicable formal requirements set forth by any governing agency or regulatory authority, and for the incorporation and implementation of any changes necessary to prevent future recurrence of any such deviation.

Services furnished by this agency and its contractors and employees shall be available to beneficiaries on a twelve-month basis. Agency services will be furnished and available in a flexible manner that accommodates all program needs of beneficiaries at different hours of the day, including evening hours, to enable beneficiaries who cannot avail themselves of services during traditional working hours due to vocational commitments. Likewise, services furnished by this agency will be available to beneficiaries during weekends to accommodate the needs of those who cannot access program services during the week owing to work and other commitments.

Services furnished by this agency and its contractors and employees shall be designed and implemented in a manner that ensures they are family-centered. Within that concept, this agency shall establish and maintain appropriate policies, procedures, and mechanisms necessary to promote effective team-building and continual collaboration between and among all identifiable groups of stakeholders, including but not limited to beneficiaries, parents, caretakers, family members, and service providers from within and outside this agency. Toward that end, specific guidelines and mechanisms will be established and maintained to ensure the continuity and sufficiency of all communications platforms and vehicles.

Professional Development and Continuing Education

This agency and any affiliates shall establish and maintain professional clinical mentorships and related opportunities that promote the professional development of employees and of all personnel engaged professionally by this agency.

This agency shall establish, maintain, and support appropriate policies, procedures, and mechanisms to provide comprehensive case conferencing. In that regard, this standard requires this agency to facilitate and support consultations among and between all stakeholders and service providers, and to coordinate and facilitate the meaningful incorporation of all stakeholders into those consultation processes.

This agency will provide appropriate opportunities for the continuing education needs of agency employees and personnel, and will establish policies and procedures designed to support, encourage, and facilitate such efforts. This agency will make reasonable accommodations in scheduling and other aspects of staff vocational responsibilities so as to allow and encourage all personnel to pursue and succeed in available continuing education opportunities. Further, this agency will provide appropriate in-service training pertaining to all policies and procedures relating to Early Intervention Program core competencies among its employees, staff, personnel, and contractors.

This agency shall establish appropriate policies and procedures as necessary to allow and promote the participation of all agency employees, staff, and other personnel in any available programs provided by the State Department of Health. That responsibility includes, but is not limited to, state-sponsored training in specific professional roles and responsibilities, such as in connection with the professional development of agency service coordinators, case evaluators, and service providers.