Project Description:
The Indian Children's Program (ICP) provides comprehensive, interdisciplinary diagnostic-evaluation services on the Navajo and Hopi reservations. Children ages birth to 22 with known or suspected disabilities are eligible for services. ICP also provides technical assistance to parents and service providers, and follow-up services as needed or requested by local service personnel.
The ICP team includes a special educator, a speech/language pathologist, a psychologist, and an occupational or physical therapist. An interpreter and other professional consultants join the team when needed. Additional personnel provide data input and clerical support.
Referrals come from Indian Health Services, Head Start, and other schools or agencies that have limited or no resources to provide evaluation or program planning for students who have disabilities. Training that is individualized and client oriented can also be provided.
Referrals may be made by parents or - with parent permission - by relatives, teachers, physicians, and social workers. There is no charge for services to referred children, their families, or other service providers.
ICP evaluations are conducted by the team of professionals, consulting medical staff, and an interpreter when needed.
The team works together with parents, teachers, and others involved with a child's care and development to determine evaluation needs. They then cooperatively assess a child's communication, motor, cognitive, and adaptive abilities, in addition to daily-living and work skills.
Assessments of educational achievement, social-emotional, and health status also are included when needed. Each child is evaluated in the setting most appropriate to the needs of the child - the home, school, local health clinic, or other community-based setting.
During the course of the evaluation, the ICP staff works with the child's parents and other involved family members or professional staff to determine the need for post-evaluation follow-up services. Follow-up can include, but is not limited to: service coordination, parent and staff training, assistance with Individual Education Plan and Individual Family Service Plan development, and a limited direct therapy as it may related to training.
ICP is operated by a consortium of three universities -- Northern Arizona University, Utah State University, and the University of New Mexico. Funding is provided by Indian Health Service.
Core Function(s):
Training Trainees, Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training, Developing & Disseminating Information
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Geographic Areas, Reservation, Rural/Remote
