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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Jennifer Lutzy McDonald, PhD, Lorraine V. Klerman, DrPH, and Jack P. Shonkoff, MD. The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Mail Stop 035, Waltham, MA 02454, 617-872-9259, jlutzy@brandeis.edu

The early intervention (EI) system has the potential to offer essential services to young children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect. In 2003, Congress passed the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act, which required states to establish “provisions and procedures for referral of a child under the age of 3 who is involved in a substantiated case of child abuse or neglect to early intervention services funded under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.”

This study examined the potential impact of such routine referrals on the EI system by comparing child welfare-referred (CWR) children currently in the Massachusetts EI system with children referred to the Massachusetts EI system from other sources (Other Children). The study found (1) CWR children differ from Other Children in how they interact with the EI system; (2) over 85% of CWR cases are eligible for EI services, including three-fourths because of developmental delays and over 50% because of environmental and familial risk factors; and (3) over 80% of eligible CWR cases have competed service plans.

This study shows that young children involved with the child welfare system are at developmental risk and suggests that this system needs to go beyond ensuring the physical safety of children to also focus on developmental risks. The EI system needs to review how it interacts with the CWR population, and consider how to best engage and serve these families and children.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify reasons why referrals of children under 3 with substantiated cases of abuse or neglect to Part C early intervention make sense based on the science of early childhood development
• Recognize that many of these children will have developmental delays and will be eligible for Part C services
• Recognize that many of these children will have risk factors and will be eligible for Part C services
• Recognize the challenges to implementation of these referrals and effective service delivery for these children and families

Keywords: Intervention, Children With Special Needs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation