Dynamic Community
Connections Project: A Process Model for Enhancing
Public Awareness & Child Find in Rural Areas
Public Awareness and Child Find are the entry way for families to access Infant and Toddler Program services. The Federal Government realized this when designing the Part C Early Intervention (EI) program. Federal Regulations require each state to implement a Public Awareness Program and a Comprehensive Child Find System.
What
is a Public Awareness Program?
A public awareness program should consist of outreach activities by the State
and early intervention agencies that focus on the early identification of children
who are eligible to receive early intervention services. The purpose
of the public awareness program is to inform the general public about the availability
and importance of early intervention services, who is eligible, and how to
access the services. Special attention to informing the primary referral
sources is mandated. Primary referral sources are those professionals
or agencies that come into direct contact with young children and their families
on a regular basis, such as hospitals, physicians, day care programs, local
educational agencies, public health facilities, other social service agencies,
and other health care providers. The Federal Regulations note that an
effective public awareness program:
- Provides a continuous, ongoing effort that is in effect throughout the State, including rural areas;
- Provides for the involvement of, and communication with, major organizations throughout the State that have a direct interest in Part C EI, including public agencies at the State and local level, private providers, professional associations, parent groups, advocate associations, and other organizations;
- Has coverage broad enough to reach the general public, including those who have disabilities; and
- Includes a variety of methods for informing the public about the program. (Note 1 Section......)
What
is Child Find?
The Child find system is a set of procedures and policies that ensure that
all infants and toddlers in the State who are eligible for services are identified,
located, and evaluated and are receiving needed early intervention services. The
child find system must include procedures for use by primary referral sources
for referring a child to the appropriate public agency within the system for
evaluation and assessment, in a timely manner.
The child find system is to be coordinated with all other major efforts, to locate and identify children, conducted by other State agencies responsible for administering the various education, health, relevant social service programs, and tribes and tribal organizations that receive payments.
The Dynamic Community Connections Project (DCCP) is a demonstration model funded by a grant through the Department of Education. For more informtion regarding this project go to the About DCCP page.
For questions regarding this webpage or project contact:
Jillian Jurica
(406) 243-2390
jjurica@ruralinstitute.umt.edu
Ted Maloney
(406) 243-2897
tmaloney@ruralinstitute.umt.edu
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