Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

John A. Lippitt, PhD, Lorraine V. Klerman, DrPH, Jennifer Lutzy McDonald, PhD, and Kathleen J. S. Mills, PhD Candidate. The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, MS077, Waltham, MA 02454-9110, 781-736-3843, lippitt@brandeis.edu

Nearly 245,000 infants and toddlers are victims of abuse or neglect each year. The science of early childhood development indicates that referrals of these vulnerable children to Part C early intervention (EI) can enhance their development. The reauthorizations of the Child Abuse and Prevention Treatment Act (CAPTA) in 2003 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 2004 require such referrals for children under 3 years of age. This presentation will describe the Massachusetts Early Childhood Linkage Initiative (MECLI), which piloted a referral process between the state's child welfare agency and its Part C Early Intervention system beginning in November 2002. A local site liaison was used to facilitate inter-agency activities and a local referral coordinator was identified at each agency. MECLI found that 540 families were offered a referral to EI, 396 accepted the referral, 218 received eligibility assessments, and 161 were eligible, of whom 66% were eligible because of developmental delay and 23% due to risk factors. State agencies and service providers will face significant challenges in implementing the IDEA and CAPTA requirements and meeting the complex needs of child welfare-involved children and families. In many states, the numbers of children that may be referred would overwhelm EI systems and their financial and professional resources. This presentation will review the challenges identified by MECLI, including (1) finding adequate resources, including time, money, and expertise; and (2) engaging and serving families involved with child welfare. Suggestions for successful implementation of the CAPTA and IDEA requirements will be provided.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Identify CAPTA and IDEA as requiring referrals of children under 3 with substantiated cases of abuse or neglect to Part C early intervention
• 2. Identify reasons for these referrals based on the science of early childhood development
• 3. Recognize that many of these children will have developmental delays and will be eligible for Part C services
• 4. Recognize the challenges to implementation of these referrals and effective service delivery for these children and families
• 5. Identify strategies for overcoming challenges and effectively implementing referrals and serving these children and families

Keywords: Children With Special Needs, Intervention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation