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Early ACCESS
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On this page...
- Guiding Practices
- Supporting Documents
- Contacts in Your Area
- Supporting Links
Early ACCESS is a partnership between families with young children, birth to age three, and providers from the Departments of Education, Public Health, Human Services, the Child Health Specialty Clinics. The purpose of this program is for families and staff to work together in identifying, coordinating and providing needed services and resources that will help the family assist their infant or toddler to grow and develop.
Services:
The family and providers work together to identify and address specific family concerns and priorities as they relate to the child's overall growth and development. In addition, broader family needs and concerns can be addressed by locating other supportive/resources services in the local community for the family and/or child. All services to the child are provided in the child's natural environment including the home and other community settings where children of the same age without disabilities participate.
Services required to be provided to children and families include:
- Service Coordination
- Screenings, evaluation and assessments
- "Individualized Family Service Plan" ( IFSP )
- Assistive Technology
- Audiology
- Family Training/Counseling
- Health Services
- Medical evaluations to determine eligibility
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Special Instruction
- Speech Language Therapy
- Vision
- Transportation
An infant or toddler under the age of three (birth to age three) who,
- has a condition or disability that is known to have a high probability of later delays if early intervention services were not provided, OR
- is already experiencing a 25% delay in one or more areas of growth or development.
Costs:
There are no costs to families for service coordination activities; evaluation and assessment activities to determine eligibility or identify the concerns, priorities and resources of the family; and development and reviews of the Individualized Family Service Plan. The service coordinator works with the family to determine cost s and payment arrangements of other needed services. Some services may have charges or sliding fee scales or may be provided at no cost to families. Costs are determined by a variety of factors that are individualized to each child and family.
Where to Apply:
The purpose of Early ACCESS Iowa is to assist families in connecting with Early ACCESS and community-based services that address specialized child and family needs through a user friendly system.
Call toll-free: 1-888-IAKIDS1 or 1-888-425-4371
Email: http://www.EarlyACCESSIowa.org
State Contact
https://www.edinfo.state.ia.us/web/contacts.asp?l=ea00000
Legal Requirements and Reports
FFY 2007 (2007-2008) IDEA Part C (Early ACCESS) Data Profile
This document provides State and Regional Grantee data for the FFY 2007 (2007-2008) reporting year in 8 federally mandated indicators. The data provides the U.S. Department of Education and Iowa stakeholders information about how well the Iowa Early ACCESS system is implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act/Part C and achieving results for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.
AEA Profiles FFY 2007 (2007-2008)
Federal Application
Iowa's Early ACCESS Application for a Part C Application
FY
2005
This is Iowa's application for IDEA Part C funding for Early ACCESS. The application demonstrates that Early ACCESS is a statewide system of early intervention services. Early ACCESS is designed to provide appropriate early intervention services to all eligible infants and toddlers birth to age three and their families in Iowa.
Annual State Application for Part C (2006-09-29)
Chapter 120
Iowa Administrative Rules of Early ACCESS
Integrated System of Early Intervention Services
These rules define the opperation of Iowa's statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, interagency system of services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and those with developmental delays under the federal individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C.
IA Administrative Rules of Early ACCESS (2006-09-29)(This site contains copies of provisions of the Iowa Administrative Code managed by the Legislative Service Bureau. Although every attempt is made to ensure that the information placed on this site is accurate and timely, the Department of Education cannot assure the accuracy of any specific provision originating from this site, and you are urged to consult the official printed version of this publication or to contact legal counsel of your choice. This site cannot legally be cited as an official or authoritative source.)
| Iowa State Legislative web site | ||
| http://www.legis.state.ia.us | ||
| Iowa Administrative Rules for Special Education (Part B) | ||
| http://www.state.ia.us/educate/ecese/cfcs/speced/rules.html | ||
| Code of Federal Regulations - Family Education Rights and Privacy ( FERPA ) |
||
| http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_01/34cfr99_01.html | ||
| Office for Civil Rights - HIPAA | ||
| http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa | ||
Early ACCESS Procedural Safeguards Manual for Parents
Parents have rights, known as procedural safeguards, which apply to every aspect of the early intervention process, such as evaluation, access to records, and Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP) team participation. State and federal laws and regulations outline what needs to happen for eligible infants and toddlers with conditions or developmental delays to enhance their growth and development. This document serves as your procedural safeguards notice and will help you understand the rights available to you and your child through a federal law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA) Part C and the Iowa Administrative Rules for Early ACCESS Integrated System of Early Intervention Services.
Part C Parental Rights Manual (2006-09-28)
Memorandum of Agreement (
MOA
)
This interagency agreement, signed May 27, 2008 by the Iowa Department of Education, Human Services, Public Health, and the University of Iowa's Child Health Specialty Clinics, outlines the agencies' roles and responsibilities in the Early ACCESS system. The agreement includes their commitment to 1) provide early intervention services and 2) support components needed for a coordinated system. This agreement fulfills a requirement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C - 303.523.
Reports, Data and Statistics
IDEA State Performance Plan- Part C
December 2005 -- December 2011
In accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, Iowa must have in place a Part C State Performance Plan that evaluates Iowa's efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of Part C and describes how Iowa will improve such implementation. This plan is in effect for six years and Iowa will report annually to the U.S. Department of Education on the performance of the State under this plan.
Iowa State Performance Plan Part C 2009-02-11
Annual Performance Reports to
OSEP
Part C
This is the annual performance report for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C, which was submitted on February 2, 2009 to the United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. The report provides data on the State's Early ACCESS system and the 10 Regional Grantees' performance in 14 national indicators.
Revised Iowa Annual Performance Report Part C 2009 4-7-09 Iowa Annual Performance Report Part C 2009-02-11
Annual Report to the Governor
This annual report is submitted to the Governor of Iowa by the Iowa Council for Early ACCESS and the Iowa Department of Education. It documents the work of the council and provides a review of the State system, including federal monitoring findings and responses.
Early ACCESS Annual Report to the Governor 2009 (2009-11-18)
2005-2006
Early ACCESS Annual Report to the Governor (2008-01-15)
Highlights (2006-09-29)
Iowa IDEA Part C System Components: Policies & Assurances State Application Requirements 2006
The Iowa Department of Education, as Lead Agency of the Early ACCESS IDEA, Part C System, is required to have Policies and Assurances as a part of their annual application. This document contains the current policies that Iowa implements. These policies were adopted after public comment was obtained. Date of adoption is designated on each policy/assurance.
Table of Contents for Policies & Assurances (2007-10-22)
Advisory Group
State Council
Iowa Council for Early ACCESS - Description
The Iowa Council for Early ACCESS (
ICEA
) advises and assists the Iowa Department of Education in the planning, coordination, and delivery of services to infants and toddlers with special needs and their families. The Council currently has 30 members, including members from the signatory agencies. The signatory agencies (the Department of Education as the lead agency, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Human Services, and Child Health Specialty Clinics) are the agencies in Iowa that form the foundation of the coordinated statewide interagency system.
The membership of the Council consists of families and representatives of the public and private sectors who, by virtue of their position, interest, and training can contribute to the quality of services provided to infants and toddlers with special needs and their families. Council membership is:
- Appointed by the Governor's Office;
- Organized according to the Federal law, meeting guidelines for its composition of 20% parents and 20% public and private providers of early intervention service. Other required members include personnel preparation, state legislator, state preschool programs, health insurance, Head Start, state child care agency, and other state agencies;
- Balanced according to State law in regard to geographic region, political party and gender;
- Appointed for a three-year term, not to exceed two consecutive terms.
Meetings are open to the public and held in accessible locations.
Agenda for November 20, 2009 (2009-11-17)
Bylaws
ICEA Bylaws Revised 2008-02-04 10:14:10
Contacts for the Early ACCESS Regional Liaisons
| Joane Amick |
Margie Jensen | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it | Kathy Cameron |
| Jeanie Wade-Nagle |
Jerry Gruba |
Cindy Chettinger |
Cathy Ryba |
| Mary Johnston |
Deb House-Deere |
Calendar
https://www.edinfo.state.ia.us/web/calendars.asp?c=ea00000
Meeting Minutes
May 15 2009 Minutes (2009-11-17)
September 22, 2006 Minutes ( 2006-11-28 08:29:50)
January 6, 2006 Minutes ( 2006-11-28 08:28:44)
ICEA Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is a committee of the Iowa Council for Early ACCESS (ICEA). Members include the ICEA Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson, at least two Council members (one of whom is a parent), and Council representatives from each of the signatory agencies. The Council elects the members who will serve on the Executive Committee. The Early ACCESS State Coordinator is an ex-officio member of the Committee.
Functions of the Executive Committee include:
- Transact all regular business of the Council during the meetings subject to review and change by the Council at its next regular meeting except that such revision and alterations shall not violate the rights of third parties;
- Receive and filter information regarding the Iowa IDEA Part C system of services and prepare it for Council response;
- Set the framework, calendar, and agenda for the Council;
- Identify and make recommendations for the appropriate utilization of state resources as well as resources outside the purview of the state;
- Move the recommendations of the Council to implementation with the assistance of staff;
- Set priorities for the Early ACCESS state staff;
- Advise and assist the lead and signatory agencies in the implementation of the interagency agreement.
Meetings are open to the public and held in accessible locations.
Meeting Minutes
First 5 Informal Concerns Update for the ICEA
March 14, 2007 Minutes
November 8, 2006 Minutes ( 2006-12-18 08:53:33)
October 11, 2006 Minutes ( 2006-12-18 08:52:35)
September 13, 2006 Minutes ( 2006-12-18 08:51:30)
August 23, 2006 Minutes ( 2006-12-18 08:50:16)
May 10, 2006 Minutes ( 2006-10-03 11:27:25)
April 12, 2006 Minutes ( 2006-10-03 11:28:35)
Guiding Practices
Quality Service Review (QSR)
The QSR is a method used for appraising the current status of young children and families receiving Early ACCESS services on key indicators and for determining the adequacy of performance of key service system functions for these same persons. The QSR examines outcomes for eligible children and their caregivers and the contribution made by a locally coordinated service system in producing those outcomes. Review results are used for understanding and improving the frontline practices of child-serving agencies.
Procedure for using the Early ACCESS QSR
This procedure outlines how to use the Early ACCESS QSR Protocol and contains important contact information.
Procedure for using the Early ACCESS QSR ( 2006-10-02 15:21:32)
Early ACCESS Quality Service Review Protocol
These working pages, collectively referred to as the QSR Protocol, are used to support a professional appraisal of child and family status and service system performance for individual children and their caregivers in a specific service area and at a given point in time.
Quality Service Review Protocol ( 2006-10-02 15:23:03)
Early ACCESS Competency Based Service Coordination Training Program
Iowa's Early ACCESS Service Coordination Training Program, which is research based, is composed of five modules. Each of the modules is focused on one of the identified competencies necessary for effective Service Coordination. Approved Trainers deliver this training is offered in each of the four quadrants of the state annually and is available to all Service Coordinators. As training modules are finalized, they will be added to the web site.
SC
Training Modules
(Click on each module title for the descriptions and course objectives)
Module 1 Federal, State and Local rules, Regulations, and Procedures for the Early ACCESS System
Training materials
Module 1--Federal, State and Local rules, Regulations, and Procedures for the Early ACCESS System
Module 2 Family Centered Practices
Training materials
Module 2--Family Centered Practices 2008-01-16 14:49:29
Module 3 The Early ACCESS Process
Module 3--Early ACCESS Process Intro
Module 3--Early ACCESS Process Section 1
Module 3--Early ACCESS Process Section 2-IFSP Process
Module 3--Early ACCESS Process Section 3--Evaluation and Assessment
Module 3--Early ACCESS Process--Transition Planning
Module 3--Early ACCESS Process Section 4--Transition Planning
Module 4 Coordinating Community Resources
Training materials
Module 4--Coordinating Community Resources
Module 5 Infant and Toddler Development
Training materials
Module 5--Infant and Toddler Development
Procedures for Training Registration
For all Service Coordination competency based training sessions register with one of the following Early ACCESS On Site Training Coordinators:
Southwest Quadrant Anne Volker This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Northeast Quadrant Cheryl Everman
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Click here for details on the Module 4 training:
Southeast Quadrant Jeanie Wade-Nagle This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
BrochuresGuiding Principles and Practices for Delivery of Family Centered Services
Family Centered Services is a way of organizing and delivering assistance and support to families based upon some distinct, interconnected beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. This brochure shares eight principles selected to guide programs delivering services.
Family Centered Services ( 2006-10-02 15:46:50)
Supporting Documents
Iowa Early ACCESS Family Survey
The Department of Education, as Lead Agency for Early ACCESS (Part C), is required by the federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to report data on the percent of families participating in Part C who report that early intervention services have helped the family know their rights; effectively communicate their children's needs; and help their children develop and learn. This survey has been developed by the National Center for Special Education Accountability Monitoring (NCSEAM), which is funded by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs. Data from this survey will be used to describe the current performance of early intervention in Iowa and to identify targets for Iowa's 6-year State Performance Plan (SPP), due to OSEP February 2, 2007.
Family Survey--Early Intervention 2008-01-15 13:26:34
NCSEAM Letter to Parents (2006-10-03)
Early ACCESS Letter to Parents - English (2006-10-03)
Early ACCESS Letter to Parents - Spanish (2006-10-03)
This document provides information about who is eligible for Early ACCESS (IDEA Part C) including guidance to IFSP teams on how to determine eligibility using one of two criteria:
- Known condition (list provided) or
- 25% developmental delay.
Iowa Part C Eligibility DocumentResource Book
Iowa Programs: Providing and Financing Children's Care and Services
This resource manual was prepared to meet the needs of families of children eligible for Early ACCESS. It is also helpful for families of other children with special needs over the age of three. It is available to the general public at all community libraries in Iowa.
Iowa Programs: Resource Book (2006-10-03)
Manuals
Parents as Presenters--http://www.iowa.gov/educate/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=926&Itemid=1602
Three family stories illustrate how Early ACCESS has benefited children who are at risk or have developmental delays and families. Each of the families benefited from the new state appropriation that was intended to support families with special conditions such as prematurity, complex medical needs, drug affected, abused or neglected.
Family Stories from Early ACCESS 2008-02-21 09:08:53
Contacts in Your Area
Regional Liaisons
https://www.edinfo.state.ia.us/web/contacts.asp?l=ea00001
Regional Grantee Administrators - Special Education Directors
2007-2008 AEA Directors of Special Education 2007-11-01 16:50:59
Supporting Links
IOWA
ASK Family Resource Center
ASK stands for "Access for Special Kids." The ASK Family Resource Center is a "one-stop-shop" for children and adults with disabilities and their families. Through its member organizations, the Center provides a broad range of information, advocacy, support, training, and direct services.
http://www.askresource.org
Birth Defects Institute
The Birth Defects Institute, in partnership with the University of Iowa and health care providers throughout the state, has developed programs that are designed to address all steps of the life cycle: prenatal, neonatal, pediatric, and adult. The mission is to advance the health and well being of children and adults with genetics conditions and special health care needs in partnership with families, health and human service providers and communities.
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/genetics
Center for Disabilities and Development (
CDD
)
CDD can help find the information you want. It hosts a disability resource library free to people with disabilities and their families.
http://uihealthcare.com/cdd
Early Childhood Iowa
This website serves as a hub for many online resources available to parents with young children. Several categories are listed as well as an A-Z search.
http://parents.earlychildhoodiowa.org
Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program
This web site is one component of Iowa's Assuring Better Child Health and Development II (ABCD II) initiative, which focuses on implementing prevention, early recognition, and early intervention practices that promote the healthy development of children from birth through age 3 who participate in Iowa's Medicaid system.
http://www.iowaepsdt.org
Healthy and Well Kids--Iowa (hawk-i)
hawk-i is a program that provides health care coverage for Iowa children in families with limited incomes.
http://www.hawk-i.org
Iowa Child Care and Early Education Network
This site is for early childhood professionals, child care providers, parents, advocates, policy makers, and others interested in early childhood education. The mission of the NetWork is to provide vision, leadership, and support for the child care and early education field and to promote state policies and partnerships to the development and learning of all children.
http://www.iowachildnetwork.org
Iowa Community Empowerment
The purpose of creating the community empowerment initiative is to empower individuals and their communities to achieve desired results for improving the quality of life for children 0-5 and their families.
http://www.empowerment.state.ia.us
Iowa COMPASS
Iowa COMPASS is Iowa's free statewide information and referral service for people with disabilities, their families, their service providers and other members of the community.
http://www.medicine.uiowa.edu/iowacompass
Iowa Early Hearing Detection and Intervention System (IAEHDI)
The Iowa Early Hearing Detection and Intervention website contains information for parents and professionals about newborn hearing screening and early intervention services for children with hearing loss.
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/iaehdi
Iowa Head Start Association
The Mission of the Iowa Head Start Association is to enhance the capacity of its members to promote and advocate for a wide range of quality services for all of Iowa's children and families.
http://iowaheadstart.org
Iowa Medicaid Infant and Toddler Program
Since March of 2001, the Iowa Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid) has allowed for covered medical services provided to Medicaid-enrolled children with special health care needs identified on their individual family service plan (IFSP). The Iowa Medicaid State Plan identifies these providers of Early ACCESS services as an Infant and Toddler provider. There is a distinct provider type with designated services reimbursable.
Iowa Program for Assistive Technology
The Iowa Program for Assistive Technology (IPAT) is Iowa's grant project under the Assistive Technology Act (ATA) of 1998. IPAT's goals are to promote and create systems change in the state with regards to assistive technology (AT) and it's use. IPAT works with consumers and family members, service providers, and state and local agencies/organizations to promote assistive technology through awareness, training, and policy work.
http://uiowa.edu/infotech
Iowa Public Health Information
Presented by the staff of the Hardin Library for Health Sciences at the University of Iowa, this site provides a one-stop shop for public health information in Iowa, saving time and effort. The easy to use web site includes the powerful Atomz search engine.
http://iowapublichealth.org
Iowa Respite & Crisis Care Coalition
The goals of the Iowa Respite and Crisis Care Coalition are to: Provide information and training to families, respite providers and agencies; increase public awareness regarding respite services and the benefits to the community; provide educational information on public policy issues related to respite and family support; and secure a flexible funding base.
http://www.irccc.com
IowAble Foundation
Iowa Able puts technology within reach of those who need it. Iowa Able may provide direct loans or loan guarantees for eligible persons through a lending institution.
http://iowable.org
Learning Disabilities Association of Iowa
The Learning Disabilities Association of Iowa is dedicated to identifying causes and promoting prevention of learning disabilities and to enhancing the quality of life for all individuals with learning disabilities and their families by: encouraging effective identification and intervention, fostering research, and protecting the rights of individuals with learning disabilities under the law.
http://www.lda-ia.org
The Iowa Legislature General Assembly
Find your state legislator by entering your street address, city, and zip code.
http://www4.state.ia.us/find-leg
LOCAL
Early ACCESS Region 8
In Early ACCESS Region 8, our beliefs will be realized when families, children, service providers and community members work as partners to ensure that children and families receive the support they need to achieve their dreams.
http://www.aea8.k12.ia.us/en/programs_and_services/early_childhood/early_access/
Early ACCESS Region 11
Region 11 provides early intervention for children birth to age three in central Iowa. The Regional Grantee, Heartland
AEA
11, is located in Johnston.
http://www.aea11.k12.ia.us/earlyaccess
Early ACCESS Region 13
Region 13 provides early intervention services to children birth to age three in southwest Iowa. Loess Hills AEA, located in Council Bluffs, is the Regional Grantee. Find your Early ACCESS services by clicking on "Programs and Services" and then "Early Childhood".
http://www.aea13.org
NATIONAL
AskABLE
AskABLE is a free personalized disability question and answer service that allows users to ask questions regarding accommodations, assistive technology, the ADA, employment and specific disability concerns.
http://askable.askvrd.org
Bridges4Kids
A nonprofit parent organization providing a comprehensive system of information and referral for parents of children from birth through transition to adult life. This site shows where to find help for a child anywhere in the US.
http://www.bridges4kids.org/HelpForKids-US.html
Child Trends is a nonprofit, nonpartisan children's research organization. We collect and analyze data; conduct, synthesize, and disseminate research; design and evaluate programs; and develop and test promising approaches to research in the field.
http://www.childtrends.org
Family Village
Family Village is a global community that integrates information, resources, and communication opportunities on the Internet for persons with cognitive and other disabilities, for their families, and for those that provide them services and support.
http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/index.html
Family Voices
Family Voices is a national, grassroots clearinghouse for information and education concerning the health care of children with special health care needs.
http://www.familyvoices.org/
Hand and Voices
Hands & Voices is a parent driven, non-profit organization dedicated to providing unbiased support to families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. We provide support activities and information concerning deaf and hard of hearing issues to parents and professionals that may include outreach events, educational seminars, advocacy, lobbying efforts, parent to parent networking, and a newsletter.
http://handsandvoices.org
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
NICHCY is the national information center funded by the US Dept. of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, that provides information on IDEA (the nations' special education law), No Child Left Behind (as it relates to children with disabilities), and research-based information on effective educational practices.
http://www.nichcy.org
National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
NECTAC is a national technical assistance consortium working to support states, jurisdictions, and others to improve services and results for young children with disabilities and their families.
http://www.nectac.org
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
NORD is a unique federation of voluntary health organizations dedicated to helping people with rare "orphan" diseases and assisting the organizations that serve them.
http://www.rarediseases.org
National Parent Network on Disabilities
The mission of the National Parent Network on Disabilities is to provide a presence and national voice for ALL families of children, youth and adults with disabilities.
http://www.npnd.org/
Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts. IDEA authorizes formula grants to states, and discretionary grants to institutions of higher education and other non-profit organizations to support research, demonstrations, technical assistance and dissemination, technology and personnel development and parent-training and information centers.
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/index.html
Pacer Center
The mission of PACER Center is to expand opportunities and enhance the quality of life of children and young adults with disabilities and their families, based on the concept of parents helping parents.
http://www.pacer.org/index.htm
Parent Matching
This program was designed to unite families with one another who have children with the same or similar disorders.
http://www.therfcc.org/parent-match.html
PEAK Parent Center, Inc.
The mission of PEAK Parent Center is to ensure that children, youth, and adults with disabilities lead rich, active lives and participate as full members of their schools and communities.
http://www.peakparent.org/
Project Participate
Project Participate provides families, educators, administrators and therapists with simple strategies to increase the active participation of students with disabilities in school programs.
http://www.projectparticipate.org/