Project Description:
The Clinic for Exceptional Children provides comprehensive services through an interdisciplinary team for children age birth to six with suspected developmental delays under the Child Development Services program. The Clinic operates from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Recommended services are scheduled and appropriate referrals are made by the clinic staff. Family involvement is encouraged in order to maximize the child’s developmental skills. The family and child are usually served for approximately one year.
Screening services include patient evaluation, staff conferences, and a written report informing the family of findings and recommendations. Evaluation services include health histories, hearing screenings, developmental screenings, and nutrition screenings. Medical examinations will be provided contingent upon referral from the primary care physician. Case management services are also provided to assist the family in completing recommendations, facilitating comprehension of the child’s development,and/or obtaining remedial services. Parent education is provided through educational materials and parenting groups. Counseling services are also provided.Transportation is provided, as needed, with bus passes for clinic visits. Reimbursement for mileage accrued by staff performing home and/or school visits in turn is also provided.
Screening services are provided by an interdisciplinary staff including pediatrics, nursing, social work, and audiology. The University of Tennessee provides other medical services as needed. In addition, members of the interdisciplinary staff may recommend and refer patients for diagnostic or therapeutic intervention, such as, speech/language evaluations and psychological evaluations through public or private resources (i.e., Memphis City Schools, Tenn-Care, or private insurance provider). The social work staff is responsible for accepting referrals which are taken daily by telephone or written requests. After receiving referrals, appointments are made for Intake. Intake services include:
·Thorough familiarization of clinic services and procedures,
·Facilitation of referral to other agencies, if appropriate,
·Obtaining pertinent data regarding past and present medical, developmental, health and educational information,
·Verification of income for SSBG eligibility. Clients, Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, and Community Service Agencies are notified of patient’s eligibility status.
*Collaboration with referring agency (i.e., Tennessee Department of
Children’s Services) or professional (i.e., primary care physician) to determine prospective roles to better serve the child and family.
If eligibility requirements are met, families are notified of the child’s acceptance and appointment date at the time of the intake interview. Clinic appointments are scheduled within 30 days of the Intake session. Families who do not meet geographic, age or income guidelines are referred to another community resource and provided with needed application information (i.e., phone number and contact person). A copy of the referral sheet and reasons for rejection are kept on file for the program year.
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Other
