§ 17a-248e — Screening of children ineligible for participation in preschool programs. Individualized family service plans. Duties of the lead agency.

Connecticut § 17a-248e

• Jurisdiction: Connecticut
• Title 17a: Social and Human Services and Resources
• Ch. 319b: Department of Developmental Services

Text

(a) Each eligible child and his or her family shall receive (1) a multidisciplinary assessment of the child's unique needs and the identification of services appropriate to meet such needs, (2) a written individualized family service plan developed by a multidisciplinary team, including the parent, within forty-five days after the referral, (3) review of the individualized family service plan with the family at least every six months, with evaluation of the individualized family service plan at least annually, and (4) not later than two months after the date on which any child is determined to be ineligible for participation in preschool programs under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Act, 20 USC 1471 et seq., a referral to register for a mobile application designated by the Commissioner of Early Childhood for the purpose of continued screening for developmental and social-emotional delays in partnership with the local or regional board of education for the school district in which such child resides pursuant to subparagraph (H) of subdivision (10) of subsection (a) of section 10-76d, provided a form used for screening for developmental and social-emotional delays using a validated screening tool, such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaire and the Ages and Stages Social-Emotional Questionnaire, or its equivalent, is provided to any family upon the request of such family for the purpose of completing and submitting such form to the local or regional board of education for the school district in which such child resides. (b) The individualized family service plan shall be in writing and contain: (1) A statement of the child's present level of physical development, cognitive development, language and speech development and self-help skills, based on acceptable objective criteria; (2) a statement of the family's priority, resources and concerns relating to enhancing the development of the eligible child; (3) a statement of the major outcomes expected to be achieved for the child and the family and the criteria, procedures and timelines used to determine the degree to which progress toward achieving the outcomes are being made, and whether modifications or revisions of the outcomes are necessary; (4) a statement of specific early intervention services necessary to meet the unique needs of the eligible child and the family, including the frequency, intensity and the method of delivering services; (5) a statement of the natural environments in which the services shall be provided; (6) the projected dates for initiation of services and the anticipated duration of such services; (7) the name of the approved comprehensive service provider that will provide or procure the services specified in the individualized family service plan; (8) the name of the individual service coordinator from the profession most immediately relevant to the eligible child's or the family's needs who will be responsible for the implementation of the plan and coordination with the other agencies and providers or an otherwise qualified provider selected by a parent; and (9) the steps to be taken to support the transition of the child who is eligible for participation in preschool programs under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Act, 20 USC 1471 et seq., as appropriate. The individualized family service plan shall be translated into and provided in Spanish for any family whose primary language is Spanish. (c) The individualized family service plan shall be signed by the child's pediatrician or a primary care provider or qualified personnel, as those terms are defined in section 17a-248 . (d) The lead agency may provide early intervention services, arrange for the delivery of early intervention services by participating agencies or contract with providers to deliver early intervention services to eligible children and the families of such children. The lead agency in providing, arranging or contracting for early intervention services shall monitor all birth-to-three service providers for quality and accountability in accordance with Section 616 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1416 and establish state-wide rates for such services. (e) The individual service coordinator for an eligible child shall, not later than three months prior to the third birthday of such child, notify the parent or guardian of such child that the parent or guardian may meet, upon request, with the coordinator to discuss the contact information for the person responsible for the administration or coordination of special education services for the school district in which such child resides. Not later than three months prior to the third birthday of such child, the coordinator shall provide the person responsible for the administration or coordination of special education services for the school district in which such child resides with the individualized family service plan for such child. See Secs. 38a-490a and 38a-516a re mandatory insurance coverage.

Legislative History

(P.A. 96-185, S. 3, 16; P.A. 10-93, S. 4; P.A. 19-121, S. 11; P.A. 21-46, S. 27; P.A. 23-101, S. 5; 23-137, S. 50.) History: P.A. 96-185 effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 10-93 deleted former Subsec. (d) re parent's ability to retain same service provider, redesignated existing Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (d) and amended same to add provisions re lead agency's ability to provide or arrange for delivery of early intervention services and lead agency's responsibilities to monitor providers for quality and accountability and establish state-wide rates for services and delete provisions applicable to services provided in 1996 and 1997; P.A. 19-121 amended Subsec. (c) by replacing “developed in consultation with the child's pediatrician or primary care physician” with “signed by the child's pediatrician or a primary care provider or qualified personnel, as those terms are defined in section 17a-248”, effective July 1, 2019; P.A. 21-46 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (4) re continued screening of children ineligible for participation in preschool programs under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Act, and making a technical change, effective July 1, 2021 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (a), a reference to Sec. 10a-76d was changed editorially by the Revisors to Sec. 10-76d for accuracy); P.A. 23-101 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision re individualized family service plans translated into and provided in Spanish, effective July 1, 2023; P.A. 23-137 added Subsec. (e) re provision of contact information for special education services administrator or coordinator and provision of individualized family service plan to such administrator or coordinators prior to a child's third birthday, effective July 1, 2023.