First Steps: Service Coordinator

 

Before starting this module it is critical to make sure that you have the time needed to complete the module. It will take an estimated eight hours to cover the material and take notes. Remember that the following material is the basis for a Service Coordinator's job duties! (Taking notes for the assessment and future reference are highly recommended.)

Please take a few minutes to read Part C, Section 303.23 below. This is the statute that defines the basics of service coordination. Understanding this material is important in learning how service coordinators fulfill their job responsibilities.

 

Service Coordination (34 CFR 303.23)

 

Service coordination means the activities carried out by a service coordinator to assist and enable an eligible child and the child’s family to receive the rights, procedural safeguards and services that are authorized to be provided under the State’s early intervention program.

 

Each child eligible under this part and the child’s family must be provided with one service coordinator who is responsible for—

i. coordinating all services across agency lines, and

ii. serving as the single point of contact in helping parents to obtain the services and assistance they need.

 

Service coordination is an active, ongoing process that involves—

i. assisting parents of eligible children in gaining access to the early intervention services and other services identified in the individualized family service plan;

ii. coordinating the provision of early intervention services and other services (such as medical services for other than diagnostic and evaluation purposes) that the child needs or is being provided;

iii. facilitating the timely delivery of available services; and,

iv. continuously seeking the appropriate services and situations necessary to benefit the development of each child being served for the duration of the child’s eligibility.

 

Specific service coordination activities include—

 

i. coordinating the performance of evaluations and assessments;

ii. facilitating and participating in the development, review, and evaluation of individualized family service plans;

iii. assisting families in identifying available service providers;

iv. coordinating and monitoring the delivery of available services;

v. informing families of the availability of advocacy services;

vi. coordinating with medical and health providers; and,

vii. facilitating the development of a transition plan to preschool services, if appropriate or other services.

 

Missouri Part C State Plan – 2004 11

Qualifications of service coordinators: Service coordinators must be persons who, consistent with

Section 303.344 (g), have demonstrated knowledge and understanding about infants and toddlers who are eligible under this part, Part C of the Act and the regulations in this part; and, the nature and scope of services available under the State’s early intervention program, the system of payments for services in the State, and other pertinent information.

Sec. 303.25 EDGAR definitions that apply.

The following terms used in this part are defined in 34 CFR 77.1

· Applicant

· Award

· Contract

· Department

· EDGAR

· Fiscal year

· Grant

· Grantee

· Grant period

· Private

· Public

· Secretary

 

Service Coordination (34 CFR 303.23) is from the Practice Manual. The information above is found on pages 10 and 11 of chapter 11 of the Practice manual. The link for the manual is :

http://dese.mo.gov/divspeced/stateplan/FY2004/PartC_2004version.pdf

 

Referral Service coordination begins at the time of referral. The information on the service coordination flow chart under referral describes the initial service coordinator’s role during this stage of the process. Let’s look at these responsibilities and see if there are any questions about what is expected of the initial service coordinator related to referral.

 

Click here for the referral process chart.

 

(To see the complete chart click on the link below.

http://www.dese.mo.gov/divspeced/FirstSteps/pdfs/BubbleChart.pdf  )

 

Primary Referral Source

A “primary referral source” is the individual or agency that first referred the child to the SPOE for First Steps. Primary referral sources are

 

1. Hospitals, including prenatal and postnatal care facilities

2. Physicians

3. Parents

4. Child-care programs

5. Local educational agencies (including special education and Parents as Teachers)

6. Public health facilities

7. Other social service agencies

8. Other health care providers

 

Referrals may ONLY be taken from a primary referral source.

 

If a referral is received from other source, the Service Coordinator must ask that a primary referral source (usually the parent) be contacted and the referral made by the primary referral source. These are two basic referral forms.A standardized referral form has been developed, along with a cover letter, intended for distribution by the local SPOEs, for all referral sources.

 

Also referrals may be made to the SPOE by telephone or in person and SPOE staff completes the referral form. In addition, a referral form specifically for infants who are being referred from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has been developed together with an introductory cover letter. These forms should be completed in ink, legibly and may be faxed, mailed or called in to the local SPOE.

 

Click on the link below to see the Early Intervention System Referral Form.

http://www.dese.mo.gov/divspeced/FirstSteps/pdfs/Forms/GeneralRefFrm.pdf

 

Click on the link below to see the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Referral Form.

http://www.dese.mo.gov/divspeced/FirstSteps/pdfs/Forms/NICUReferFrm.pdf

 

previous                                                                                    next   

 

 

Return to the main page for Service Coordinator

 

If you have a question about this module please check the Q & A pages. If you still have a question after reviewing the Q & A pages please send an email to: webreplyspefs@dese.mo.gov or call 573.751.0187

 

Privacy statement