State Context - Foundations of Part C Services in Montana
Montana’s Part C Early Child Outcome System
State Context - Foundations of Part C Services in Montana
The Part C Lead Agency is Department of Public Health and Human Services= Developmental Disabilities Program
The Developmental Disabilities Program contracts with Seven Independent Regional Agencies to Provide Part C and other Family Support Services (children 3 through 18 years old)
Approximately 700 Infants and Toddlers are in Part C On Any Day and 1500+ Receive Part C Services Annually
The Regional Part C Agencies Employee Family Support Specialist to Provide Service Coordination and Early Intervention Home-Based Services
Family Support Specialist Typically Possess a Bachelors or Masters Degrees in a Education, Health or Human Service Discipline, Thus They Enter With Varying Levels of Young Child Assessment and Intervention Skills
Family Support Specialist Receive On the Job Training and Must Meet a More Stringent Certification within Two Years
The Lead Agency and Regional Part C Service Providers have a Long History of Collaboration on Developing and Implementing Service Systems Components
Initial Buy-In Strategies
The Developmental Disabilities Program, Regional Part C Service Providers, Family Support Services Advisory Council (ICC) and The University of Montana=s Rural Institute Collaborate in Implementing a Part C General Supervision Enhancement Grant that was Funded in the Fall or 2004, Started January of 2005
Disseminated Information Concerning OSEP and ECO Center Resources for Early Child Outcomes and SPP/APR.
Linked Planning, Training, Systems Development and Technical Assistance Into A Part C Comprehensive Strategic Plan
Developed Early Child Outcome ABlueprint@ for SPP
Established a Part C Work Group (Part C Providers Middle Managers, DDP and Part C GSEG) to Work on the Strategic Plan, Including Early Child Outcomes
Focused all of the Above Activities on:
Making Part C Service Improvements at All Levels, Family Support Specialist, Regional Part C Agencies and Lead Agency Through Early Child Outcomes (and SPP)
This is an Evolutionary Process that Will Change and Improve with Participants Feedback
Training for Using the Child Outcome Summary Process
Part C Coordinator and Montana Part C GSEG Director Participated in OSEP and ECO Center Conferences and Consulted with the ECO Center
ECO Training On Child and Family Outcomes For Part C Work in October
Introduction to ECO Center Child and Family Outcomes Resources/Processes
Participants were the Part C Work Group (Part C Managers)
Dr. Kathy Hebbeler, ECO Center
Additional Facilitation for Planning and Decision-Making by Ted Maloney, Part C GSEG and Erica Swanson, Part C Coordinator
ECO Training On Child Outcomes Forms and Procedures for ATrain the Trainers@ - Part C Mangers and Senior Family Support Specialist (January 31-February 1)
Presentation of ECO Child Outcome Process/Forms
Discussions of ECO Resources
Practice Using Actual Child Data and Information
Planning for Implementation and Resource Development
Dr. Kathy Hebbeler, ECO Center
Additional Facilitation for Planning and Decision-Making by Ted Maloney, Part C GSEG and Erica Swanson, Part C Coordinator
Adapted ECO Center Documents and Presentations into a Montana Early Child Outcomes Document
Early Child Outcome Meeting with ATrainers@ (Regional Part C Managers and Senior Family Support Specialist)
AWho=s In, Who=s Out@
Feedback on Early Child Outcomes Document
Developed A Training Presentation for Early Child Outcomes Document
Discussed Training Family Support Specialists
Regional Part C Agencies ATrainers@ Teach Family Support Specialist in Their Agencies
Training Presentation Going Over Early Child Outcomes Document
AWho=s In, Who=s Out@
Practice Using Actual Child Data and Information
Follow-up with Individual Support and Feedback
Strategies to Assure Buy-In and Consistent Use of the Child Outcome Summary Form
Part C Regional Agencies and Stakeholder Involved in Key Early Decisions about How Montana Would Approach Early Child Outcomes
Part C Agencies Involved in Specific Decisions about Using the ECO Center Resources and Child Outcome Summary Form
Joint Training of Part C Managers and Family Support Specialist Across the State
Each Part C Agency is Using the Early Child Outcome Document and Training Resources
Planned Review and Feedback Meeting after Three Months
Follow-up Informal Evaluation and Technical Assistance
Ongoing Support and Technical Assistance From State to Regional Part C Agency Staff
Technical Assistance by Telephone and Email
Telephone Follow-Up After Part C Agencies Completed Their Training of Family Support Specialist
Process to Determine Additional Training Needs in Related Areas (e.g., Child development, assessment, functional outcomes)
Late June Meeting To Discuss Baseline Implementation Issues and Revising Montana Child Outcome Document For Ongoing Measurement After Baseline Period for February 2007 APR
Review Child Outcomes Forms for Baseline to Determine Fidelity and Emerging Issues
What Have We Learned or Think We have Learned So Far
Setting the Foundation by Disseminating OSEP and ECO Center Documents About Early Child Outcomes and SPP/APR and Discussing Issues of Development and Implementation - >Getting the Buy-In Early and Often!@
Collaborative Planning, Development and Implementation of Early Child Outcome System and Documents
Including the Family Support Specialist as well as Part C Managers in Training and Decision-Making
Emphasis on Foundations (e.g., Early Child Development, Multiple Sources of Child Outcome Data) Prior to Addressing the Child Outcome Summary Forms and Process
Include Practice, Plenty of AThinking Out Loud@, Discussions In Addition to Covering the Material/Content
Listen
Seek Feedback