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 to 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 child or 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 programs for typically developing children.

Vermont provides services for nearly all of its children in the Part C/Family, Infant, Toddler Program (FITP) in natural environments. A natural environment is where the 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/Family, Infant, Toddler Program (FITP) 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 and 2007 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 Part C services. Although it was decided to report data for regional EIPs in which fewer than 11 surveys were returned, please be aware that is difficult to draw informed conclusions about what these data mean.

We report the percent of families participating in the Part C/Family, Infant, Toddler Program (FITP) 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 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 and 2007 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 Part C services. Although it was decided to report data for regional EIPs in which fewer than 11 surveys were returned, please be aware that is difficult to draw informed conclusions about what these data mean.

We report the percent of families participating in the Part C (FITP – Family, Infant and Toddler 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 and 2007 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 Part C services. Although it was decided to report data for regional EIPs in which fewer than 11 surveys were returned, please be aware that is difficult to draw informed conclusions about what these data mean.

We report the percent of all children exiting the Part C/Family, Infant, Toddler Program (FITP) 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/Family, Infant, Toddler Program (FITP) services and entering other services 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/Family, Infant, Toddler Program (FITP) 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/supervisory union 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/FITP 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/FITP program must notify the school 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/Family, Infant, Toddler Program (FITP) 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/FITP 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 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 child or family circumstances that prevent the conference/meeting from occurring within the 90-day time line, and/or there are late referrals to the Part C/Family, Infant, Toddler Program (i.e., children entering the Part C/Family, Infant, Toddler Program too late to meet the 90-day transition conference/meeting requirement).