Table Discussion #2: System Capacity by ITCA Infant & Toddler Coordinators Association

States have strategies to mitigate system capacity challenges so that families receive timely and quality Part C services.

ideaitca — 2024-08-20 17:27:46 UTC

Workforce, political, and other challenges

2024-08-25 18:20:35 UTC

The political climate greatly impacts our ability to meet requirements both in positive and negative ways.

Policy Barrier

2024-08-25 18:29:50 UTC

Local government policies make it difficult to appropriately and consistently communicate with families by their preferred method (i.e., text).
Too strict or too laxed eligibility policy

Dispute Resolution

2024-08-25 18:35:16 UTC

Difficulty confirming a family's understanding of parental rights prior to the submission of a formal/informal complaint.
Trouble finding ways to ease fear of EI providers regarding sharing parental rights to families without feeling like they are opening the door for families to complain about services provided.

IFSP services

2024-08-25 18:38:13 UTC

Investigating and assuring EI providers are not offering recommended/needed services because there is no EI professional available to provide the service(s).

Reimbursement Rate for Services

2024-08-25 18:51:47 UTC

Serving Part C children comes with extra work and requirements for providers but not usually extra reimbursement, which compounds the shortage issue. What are strategies for making Part C more attractive for providers?

Creative strategies

2024-08-25 19:05:21 UTC

Short videos to help empower families. Incentives for providers who have taken certain trainings. Some local centers are not hiring prices who are virtual only. Provider hosted session for families when they're agency is over capacity or has vacancies to inform them if their rights and compensatory services.

Impact

2024-08-25 19:07:37 UTC

Not meeting federal timelines, families receiving fewer services, pockets of states receiving only virtual services, managing personnel shortages through virtual services. Families having to choose between getting vital services easier or more often than getting in person services.

Referral Processes

2024-08-25 19:23:43 UTC

Looking at referral processes, being transparent re delayed services, sharing referral status/delayed services information with public quarterly.

Creative strategies

2024-08-25 19:24:12 UTC

Exploring ways that tele-health visits can increase capacity. Should OSEP negatively affect a program if a virtual provider is available and the family refuses to try it? Mi implements cases where a child is seen virtually the majority of visits but is seen in person once a month. If possible write the ifsp so virtual or in person services can be delivered.

Virtual Evaluation

2024-08-25 20:21:51 UTC

Oklahoma has implemented a virtual evaluation team to help with capacity issues on teams. When someone has a low caseload or are returning from extended leave and building back up, they are placed on the VE team and teams that are in need can access the statewide calendar to schedule virtual evals to help meet the 45 day timeline.