We report the percent of infants and toddlers with Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) who receive the early intervention services on their IFSPs in a timely manner.

Vermont wants and expects to deliver services at the earliest possible age and the earliest possible time. We therefore are measuring the time it takes between the development of the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and the beginning of services. The target for this indicator is 100% compliance, meaning that we expect each service to begin within 30 days of when the family signs their IFSP agreeing to the services, unless there are family circumstances that prevent this from occurring.

We report the percent of infants and toddlers with Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) who primarily receive early intervention services in the home or community-based settings.

Vermont provides services for nearly all of its children in the Part C CIS-early intervention program in natural environments. A natural environment is where research and common sense tells us young children learn best. Natural environments for this age population are where the child and family spend their time, e.g., in their home, child care, parent child center, Early Head Start. These environments support the “carrying over” or generalization of learning into the everyday routines and activities of the child and family.

We report the percent of families participating in the Part C CIS-early intervention program who report that early intervention services have helped the family know their rights.

Vermont highly values family voices. We do a survey every year to assess to what degree families receiving Part C services understand their rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. We particularly want to know if families know what to do and whom to call if they are not satisfied with any aspect of their family and child’s services and supports.

Data for this indicator in FFYs 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 were gathered by sending a survey to all families who had been in the Part C program a minimum of six months. The survey included some demographic data and an area for comments. As demonstrated in the table, the number of returned surveys across the regional EIPs in FFY 2007-2008 (29% return rate) decreased from FFYs 2005 (34% return rate) and 2006 (30% return rate) in all but one regional EIP. This was not surprising, since Vermont Part C switched from using a short survey containing just three questions required for reporting to the Office of Special Education Programs in FFYs 2005 and 2006, to a survey containing the three questions plus 15 additional (18 total) questions in FFY 2007. One of the primary reasons for increasing the length of the survey was to hopefully help us learn more about the ongoing needs of the families receiving CIS/Part C services. The statewide return rate for the survey conducted in FFY 2008 was 39%, well above the target of 30% and higher than previous years. Several strategies were employed during this reporting period to increase the rate of survey returns and representation of families who receive CIS/EI services. The response rate for regions ranged from 25% to 54%. Eleven of the 12 regional CIS/EIPs exceeded the state target for the reporting year, up from only seven of 12 regions last year. For the one region that did not reach the state target of 30%, this was the first occurrence in the four years of data collection. The return rate for the FFY 2009 Family Outcomes survey was 34%, which exceeded the FFY 2009 state target of 30%. The response rate for regions ranged from 16.9% to 47%.

Although it was decided to report data for regional Part C CIS-EIPs in which fewer than 12 surveys were returned, please be aware that is difficult to interpret or draw informed conclusions about what these data mean. 

We report the percent of families participating in the Part C CIS-early intervention program who report that early intervention services have helped the family effectively communicate their children’s needs.

Information from the family survey tells us, in each regional CIS/EIP, to what degree families report that the early intervention services have helped them to better understand their children’s needs and the service systems that could benefit their children. This hopefully puts families in a good position to communicate (advocate for) their children’s needs.

Data for this indicator in FFYs 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 were gathered by sending a survey to all families who had been in the Part C program a minimum of six months. The survey included some demographic data and an area for comments. As demonstrated in the table, the number of returned surveys across the regional EIPs in FFY 2007-2008 (29% return rate) decreased from FFYs 2005 (34% return rate) and 2006 (30% return rate) in all but one regional EIP. This was not surprising, since Vermont Part C switched from using a short survey containing just three questions required for reporting to the Office of Special Education Programs in FFYs 2005 and 2006, to a survey containing the three questions plus 15 additional (18 total) questions in FFY 2007. One of the primary reasons for increasing the length of the survey was to hopefully help us learn more about the ongoing needs of the families receiving CIS/Part C services. The statewide return rate for the survey conducted in FFY 2008 was 39%, well above the target of 30% and higher than previous years. Several strategies were employed during this reporting period to increase the rate of survey returns and representation of families who receive CIS/EI services. The response rate for regions ranged from 25% to 54%. Eleven of the 12 regional CIS/EIPs exceeded the state target for the reporting year, up from only seven of 12 regions last year. For the one region that did not reach the state target of 30%, this was the first occurrence in the four years of data collection. The return rate for the FFY 2009 Family Outcomes survey was 34%, which exceeded the FFY 2009 state target of 30%. The response rate for regions ranged from 16.9% to 47%.

Although it was decided to report data for regional Part C CIS-EIPs in which fewer than 12 surveys were returned, please be aware that is difficult to interpret or draw informed conclusions about what these data mean.

We report the percent of families participating in the Part C CIS-early intervention program who report that early intervention services have helped the family help their children develop and learn. Information is from the family survey.

Data for this indicator in FFYs 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 were gathered by sending a survey to all families who had been in the Part C program a minimum of six months. The survey included some demographic data and an area for comments. As demonstrated in the table, the number of returned surveys across the regional EIPs in FFY 2007-2008 (29% return rate) decreased from FFYs 2005 (34% return rate) and 2006 (30% return rate) in all but one regional EIP. This was not surprising, since Vermont Part C switched from using a short survey containing just three questions required for reporting to the Office of Special Education Programs in FFYs 2005 and 2006, to a survey containing the three questions plus 15 additional (18 total) questions in FFY 2007. One of the primary reasons for increasing the length of the survey was to hopefully help us learn more about the ongoing needs of the families receiving CIS/Part C services. The statewide return rate for the survey conducted in FFY 2008 was 39%, well above the target of 30% and higher than previous years. Several strategies were employed during this reporting period to increase the rate of survey returns and representation of families who receive CIS/EI services. The response rate for regions ranged from 25% to 54%. Eleven of the 12 regional CIS/EIPs exceeded the state target for the reporting year, up from only seven of 12 regions last year. For the one region that did not reach the state target of 30%, this was the first occurrence in the four years of data collection. The return rate for the FFY 2009 Family Outcomes survey was 34%, which exceeded the FFY 2009 state target of 30%. The response rate for regions ranged from 16.9% to 47%.

Although it was decided to report data for regional Part C CIS-EIPs in which fewer than 12 surveys were returned, please be aware that is difficult to interpret or draw informed conclusions about what these data mean.

We report the percent of eligible infants and toddlers with Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) for whom an evaluation and assessment and an initial IFSP meeting were conducted within Part C’s 45-day time line. This indicator is very similar to Indicator 1, since they both measure how timely we are in providing services at regional CIS-EIP and statewide levels.

For Indicator 7, we are looking at the “front end” of services, making sure we have all the information we need to: a) evaluate a child’s strengths and needs in each developmental area, and b) hold an initial IFSP meeting in which this evaluation information is used to plan the outcomes and services that will be in the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). The target for this indicator is 100% compliance, meaning that we expect the evaluation and assessment to be completed and initial IFSP meeting held no later than 45 days from the date the child was referred to the Part C CIS-early intervention program, unless there are child or family circumstances that prevent this from occurring.

We report the percent of all children exiting the Part C CIS-early intervention program who received timely transition planning to support their transition to preschool and other appropriate community services by their third birthday, including Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) with transition steps and services.

Vermont’s goal is to have successful transitions for children (and their families) who are leaving Part C CIS-early intervention services and entering other services/settings at age three. In order to do this well, children are to have a Transition Plan that includes activities, timelines and designated people who will help make the transition a positive and effective experience. The target for this indicator is 100% compliance.

We report the percent of all children exiting the Part C CIS-early intervention program who received timely transition planning to support the child’s transition to preschool and other appropriate community services by their third birthday, including notification to the school district (SD)/supervisory union (SU) if a child is potentially eligible for Part B preschool special education services - Essential Early Education (EEE).

As part of the Part B Special Education Child Find effort for children ages three to 22 in Vermont, Part C CIS-early intervention is viewed as a partner program in which children with active Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) might benefit from Part B preschool special education services (Essential Early Education-EEE) at the age of three. Timely transition planning means the Part C CIS-early intervention program must notify the SD/SU in which the child resides about each child who may be potentially eligible for Essential Early Education at least six months prior to the child’s third birthday. This notification, which fulfills Part B Child Find requirements, includes the child's name, date of birth, and parent contact information (including parents' names, addresses, and telephone numbers). No personal health information or records are exchanged. The target for this indicator is 100% compliance.

We report the percent of all children exiting the Part C CIS-early intervention program who received timely transition planning to support the child’s transition to preschool and other appropriate community services by their third birthday, including a transition conference that occurs at least 90 days prior to the child’s third birthday if the child is potentially eligible for Part B preschool special education services - Essential Early Education (EEE).

This indicator reports the number of children (and families) who received an official transition conference (meeting) at least 90 days before their third birthday. This means that the family, Part C CIS-early intervention program staff and providers, and the school’s EEE staff or representatives came together to discuss the transition plan and determine what information was needed to support the child leaving the Part C CIS-early intervention program and entering the Part B preschool special education program (EEE). This support includes ensuring the child has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in place so that services on the IEP actually begin on the child’s third birthday. The target for this indicator is 100% compliance, unless there are family circumstances that prevent the conference/meeting from occurring within the 90-day time line, and/or there are late referrals to Part C CIS-early intervention. (i.e., children referred to and found eligible for Part C services fewer than 120 days prior to their third birthday prevents the child’s IFSP team from meeting the 90-day transition conference/meeting requirement).