Project Description:
Early Connections Project
Purpose:
A model demonstration project to improve services and results for children with disabilities via early identification, child find and referral of children from birth to five years of age who have disabilities or are at risk for developmental delays. The project works with six diverse communities to promote hearing and vision screening; family participation in the ASQ Monitoring system and linkages among practitioners and agencies concerned with early identification. The project also works with three state-level committees to promote systems change and the adoption of exemplary practices.
Values:
Family centered
Community based
Five Major Goals:
1. Establish and support a state level policy and practices review committee and project advisory committee to promote a comprehensive, collaborative, value-based, high quality child find system across sate and other agencies concerned with young children and their families.
2. Establish and support community demonstration teams in six diverse New Hampshire communities to promote high quality child find policies and practices at the local level;
3. Disseminate information, strategies, resources and materials in a variety of user-friendly formats to wide audiences throughout the state and nationally;
4. Conduct formative and summative evaluation of all project processes, activities, materials, strategies and outcomes; and
5. Work with committees and constituents to design and implement a plan to infuse successful processes and strategies in communities throughout the state.
Expected Outcomes:
1. An increase in the number and percent of eligible infants and toddlers and their families identified and served by Part C of IDEA; 2
2. An increase in the number and percent of eligible infants (birth to one year) and their families identified and served by Part C of IDEA; 3
3. An increase in the number of young children who participate in hearing and vision screening in six target communities
4. An increase in the number of families participating in parent-completed screening and monitoring of their young children;
5. Innovative strategies and useful products for quality child-find
6. Adoption of exemplary child find policies and practices at the state and local level
Keyword(s):
child find, early identification and referral
Core Function(s):
Training Trainees, Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention, Other
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Urban
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
State
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
