Joining Other National Organizations
In May, representatives from EIFA will join with
representatives from Family Voices, the 619 Consortium, the Infant and Toddler
Coordinators Association (ITCA), the Early Childhood Special Interest Group of
the AUCD, and the Division of Early Childhood (DEC) to begin the first of many
conversations regarding the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA). While Congress’s
consideration of the actual reauthorization legislation is still several years
out, the preparation work on key issues related to reauthorization is beginning
and EIFA believes strongly that the family perspective must be included in all
of these discussions.
Proactive
This is a pivotal time for EIFA. This organization began to
take shape during the last reauthorization process. At that time, individual family leaders got
together to react to draft legislation.
In the years since, EIFA has provided testimony on the proposed and
final Part C regulations. This opportunity will allow EIFA to join other
national organizations to develop concept papers and priorities that will lead
to draft legislation. We will be proactive rather than reactive.
Identify Priorities and Strategies
The group discussions will focus on reauthorization
specifically as it relates to infants, toddlers and preschoolers with disabilities
and their families. The intent of this meeting is to start the dialogue, establish
shared priorities and identify strategies to move the shared agenda
forward. It is hoped that this will be the first in an
expansive effort to make the reauthorization process be relevant and effective
for young children with disabilities and their families. As a function of meeting participation, by the middle of
March each organization has been asked to identify 3-5 priority areas that need
to be addressed in the reauthorization process. In a Board meeting this past
weekend, five priority areas were identified. They are:
Family Support – add stronger language describing possible family support services and how to you provide them
Family Assessment – add stronger language to insure functionality of family assessment prior to the development of the IFSP
Transitions in the broader sense – add stronger language to insure transition into, within and from Part C to other early childhood programs.
Data Collection – add stronger language requiring more comprehensive data collection and reporting to assist states to understand which programs children and families enrolled in Part C are also interacting with, to improve coordination and financing. This would include, but not be limited to: Title V, Home Visiting programs, Medicaid, SSI, and CAPTA.
Funding formula for Part C – revise to recognize that population-based distribution is not equitable, move to a system that based on the total number of children served.
The priorities identified by each organization will be cross-referenced with the intent of identifying 3-5 common issues across all organizations. These will be the focus of the discussions in May. This is only the first step in developing our priorities for reauthorization. If working on identifying additional issues, drafting language and writing issue briefs about IDEA reauthorization is an area that you are interested in as an EIFA member please email us at: eifamilyalliance.org to join our policy and legislation committee.
What a privilege for EIFA to join others to prepare for the reauthorization of IDEA!! I'm particularly interested in "transitions" and how we continue to work together towards a truly seamless effort for families in every state at the various transition times. This could be from hospital to home, a move to a new state, moving from Part C supports and services to another early childhood setting, etc. I wonder how we can better align the Part C and Part B to make it work for families. I live in ND and I once heard a parent say that it took her nine separate meetings to get her child to her 3rd birthday...hard to believe that's seamless!
ReplyDeleteI am very excited to see the proactive work that EIFA is undertaking for the reauthorization of IDEA and the great partnerships that are occurring with the reauthorization summit. It is good to see the broad stakeholder group that will represent the early intervention community it represents. I am very interested in all of the pieces that EIFA has identified as it's priorities, especially functionality. I personally experienced the challenge between too much focus on a child skill rather than looking at the child and/or family's functioning with in her daily activities. This process will challenges us all to think outside of the current structure and enhance the next generation of statute or regulation to meet the best practices of today.
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