1. “Don’t Worry.
But Don’t Wait.”
1800EarlyOn.org
Victoria
Meeder, Marketing/Public
Awareness Supervisor
Stefanie Rathburn,
Training & Technical Assistance
Specialist
Find us on Facebook
Facebook.com/earlyonmichigan
Find us on Twitter
Twitter.com/ChildFindMich

2. Learning Objectives
1. Learn about
Michigan’s early
intervention
system, Early On
2. How to make a
referral
3. Red flags of
development

3. Clinton County RESA
Office of Innovative Projects
Early On® Training and Technical Assistance
 Personnel development for Early On
Pre-Service
 Early On Center for Higher Education
Early On Public Awareness
 Child find for Infants and Toddlers, birth – 3
Project Find
 Child find for Special Education, birth – 26
619 Training and Technical Assistance
Early Childhood Special Education Focus 3 to 5

4. What is Early On
• A statewide system of early
intervention services
mandated by federal
legislation (Part C of IDEA);
• Designed to help families find
the social, health and
educational services that will
promote the development of
their infants and toddlers with
special needs;
• Based on partnerships
between families and service
providers and on
collaboration among
community agencies,
organizations and private
practitioners;
• Emphasizes early identification
and early services.

5. Purpose of Part C
•To enhance the
development of
infants and toddlers;
•To reduce costs to our
society;
•To maximize the
potential of individuals
with disabilities;
•To enhance the
capacity of families…;
•To enhance the
capacity of states…

6. Structure of Part C in Michigan
US Congress IDEA
Michigan Interagency
US Dept. of Education Coordinating Council
Office of Special Education (MICC)
Programs
Major Grantees:
Michigan State Board of Major Grantees:
Education • Qualitative Compliance
Information Project
• Early On Training &
MI Dept. of MI Dept. Technical Assistance
Community Michigan Department of
of • EO Public Awareness
Health Education • MI Alliance for Families/
Human Office of Great Start Parent Training &
Services Information
• Interagency Information
Systems
• Inter-Tribal Council of
Dept. of Community Local Service Areas/ Michigan
Public Intermediate School Districts • MI Compliance Info System
Mental Health (funded by Part B)
Health (57)
Early On Coordinator Local Interagency
Coordinating Council
(LICC)

7. Early On Services Are:
• Strength(s) based
• Family Centered
• Based on
parent/profession
al partnerships
• Based on
interagency
collaboration

8. Early On is a System of Services
Health Services Physician Insurance
Hospital
Social Services
Early Head Start
Children’s
Special Health
Early Intervention
Care
Services
Mental Health
Child Care Health Dept.
Easter Seals

9. Eligibility for Early On
Services
•Any infant or toddler with
an established
condition(i.e., a physical or
mental condition likely to
lead to a delay)
•Developmental Delay
•Under 2 months of age
- any delay
•2 to 36 months of age -
20% in one or more
areas
•Change in Eligibility
Began July 2010
Eligibility is not
determined by income

10. Established
Conditions
Established Conditions: Children with
established conditions are those from birth
through age two who have a diagnosed
physical or mental condition that has a
high probability of resulting in a
developmental delay.
Categories of Established Conditions:
• Congenital Anomalies
• Chromosomal Anomalies
• Infectious Conditions
• Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders
• Other Diseases
• Hearing Deficiency
• Other Fetal/Placental Anomalies
• Exposures Affecting Fetus
• Chronic Illness
• Developmental Disorders
• Mental Health Conditions

11. Developmental Delay
in one of more of the
following categories:
 Physical (including
hearing and vision)
 Gross and Fine Motor
Development
 Communication
Development
 Cognitive
Development
 Social/Emotional
Development
 Adaptive (self-help)

12. What is the Early
On® timeline?
 Parental Notification
◦ Within 10 days of
referral
 Evaluation and
Assessment
◦ Within 45 days
 Individualized Family
Service Plan (IFSP)
◦ Within 60 days
 Transition
◦ Up to nine months
before exit
◦ Minimum of 90 days
before exit

13. Parent Notification
When first contact is made to
parents, they need to know 3
things
1) What is Early On
2) Family rights
(procedural
safeguards)
3) A description of the
consent that they must
give in order for the
child to be evaluated
•Consent to evaluate
form Authorization to
share form (updated
every six months or as
needed)
•Every family receives at no
charge
•Evaluation and
assessment
•Service coordination
•Development of an IFSP

14. Developmental
Evaluation
•Two people (or more) from
different professions or
disciplines
Consists of 5 parts
1. Cognitive
Development
2. Physical Development,
including vision and
hearing, gross and fine
motor
3. Communication
Development
4. Social or Emotional
Development
5. Adaptive Development
•Parentinput should be
considered in all areas

15. Health Appraisal
Obtain information about
past and current health
•Physical Examination
•Bydoctor, nurse, or
nurse practitioner
•Must be conducted
within:
•3 months for a child 18
months or under
•6 months for a child
over 18 months

16. Individual Family
Service Plan
The IFSP meeting will include:
•Results of the evaluation
•Concerns of the parents
•Outcomes desired by
the parents for their child
•Outcomes in natural
environments and
daily routines
•Supports needed by the
family
•Early intervention
services identified to
support the outcomes

17. Review of the Plan
of Service
•Every Six-Month or
sooner a Review of the
IFSP outcomes must be
evaluated
•Atleast every 12 months
a new IFSP is developed
•Up to nine months
before a child turns three
years of age a transition
planning meeting is held

18. Services Provided by Early On
 Assistive  Speech Therapy
Technology  Physical Therapy
Services  Special
 Audiology Services Instruction
 Family  Social Work
Training, Counselin  Psychological
g & Home Visits Services
 Nursing Services  Health Services
 Nutrition Services  Service
Coordination
 Occupational
 Transportation
Therapy
 Vision Services

19. When to Make a
Referral
• If an established
condition exists, it’s
best practice to share
information about
Early On.
• When a parent
expresses concern.
• When there is an
identified red flag
about a child’s
development.

20. Red Flags at 6
Months
• Infant not
reaching for
objects
• Not yet rolling over
from stomach to
back
• Does not make
eye contact
• Does not laugh or
squeal
(View handout for
additional information
about typical development
and red flags for children
birth to 48 months of age)

21. Red Flags at Twelve
Months
• Persistent mouthing of
objects
• Excessive self-stimulation
• Cannot stand when
supported
• Uses only one side of body
• Not transferring objects from
one hand to the other
• Not looking for hidden
objects
• Not using single words
• Does not use
gestures, e.g., waving, pointi
ng, or shaking head

22. Red Flags at 18
Months
• Not walking
independently
• Walks on tiptoes
• Excessive rocking
• Withdrawn
• Does not respond to
simple requests
• Little or no social
engagement
• Does not point or try to
indicate wants

23. Red Flags at 24
Months
• Inability to walk up
and down stairs
• Any regression of skills
• No two word phrases
• Persistent poor
transitions
• Does not show
affection
• Does not know and
point to 5 body parts

24. Discussing
Potential Referral
 Discuss concern(s) with
parent
 If they share
concern(s), proceed
with a referral.
If not – what to do?
 Provide opportunities to
observe similar age
children
 Provide information
about developmentally
appropriate behaviors
 Keep log of identified
concern(s) to share with
parents
 Remind parent about
the benefits of Early
On, input from specific
disciplines
 Provide an Early On
brochure to parent

25. How to Make a Referral
• Call 1-800-Early-On
• FAX: 517-668-0446
• www.1800EarlyOn.org
• Email (link on website)
• Online Referral Process
• Contact your local
county Early On directly

26. www.1800EarlyOn.org

27. www.ProjectFindMichigan.org

28. Join Us on Facebook
Facebook.com/EarlyOnMichigan

29. Twitter.com/ChildFindMich
Follow Our Tweets

30. Public Awareness Products

31. Thank You for Attending
1-800-Early On (327-5966)
www.1800EarlyOn.org
1-800-252-0052
www.ProjectFindMichigan.org