Early Intervention in Head Start
by Corinne Garland, Director, Region III RAP, Child Development Resources, Lightfoot, Virginia
While Head Start programs, together with public schools, are serving three- and four-year-olds with disabilities, services are also available to many infants and toddlers with disabilities through early intervention programs. Part H of IDEA, the same law that guarantees a free and appropriate education for all children from age three, has encouraged States to plan services for children birth to three who have disabilities or delays in development. Some States also provide early intervention for children who are at risk for developmental delay.
Even though Head Start programs do not serve infants and toddlers, there are several reasons why Parent Child Centers (PCCs) and Head Start programs will want to know about the early intervention programs in their States. Infants and toddlers enrolled in PCCs and migrant programs may be eligible for some services under Part H (early intervention program). The early intervention system will be an excel lent source of referral for PCCs and Head Start programs, helping with the identification of children with disabilities and with their placement in the natural and inclusive setting that Head Start and PCC programs offer. Children leaving early intervention at age three may be referred to Head Start as part of their plans for transition.
Each State has planned its own early intervention system and has appointed its own lead agency for early intervention. Each governor has appointed a State interagency coordinating council to assist in the planning of the statewide early intervention system. Public agencies, public private service providers, legislators, and others are represented on the coordinating councils. Some communities also have local interagency coordinating councils. These councils typically welcome the participation of PCCs and Head Start programs as important resources in the planning of statewide systems for young children with disabilities.
Children who are referred to the early intervention system will receive a team assessment to deter mine a child's eligibility for services. The team will assess each child's developmental levels, strengths, and concerns, and will help families identify their concerns, resources, and priorities. Based on assessment results and on the out comes that each family wants for their child, an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) will be developed.
Early intervention services under Part H include:
- Special instruction
- Communication therapy
- Audio logical assessment and intervention
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Psychological services
- Parent and family training
- Diagnostic medical services and health services related to the IFSP
- Counseling services
- Transportation
- Nutrition services
- Vision services
- Social services
- Service coordination
Because no one agency or discipline is expected to have all the services needed for a child and family, the early intervention system is designed to be interagency, interdisciplinary, coordinated, and collaborative. A services coordinator is appointed to be the link between each family and the early intervention system. Head Start and PCC programs will want to be part of that system. For more information on the early intervention (Part H) program in your State, call your RAP project.