Current through March 20, 2024
School district or approved cooperative staff must determine
eligibility for early intervention services and must explain rights to
families, as described in Nebraska Department of Education regulations at 92
NAC 52.
007.01
SERVICES
COORDINATOR RESPONSIBILITY. The services coordinator must:
(A) Provide written notice and obtain consent
for screening, multidisciplinary evaluation, and child assessment. If screening
procedures are utilized to identify whether the child is suspected of having a
disability, and the screening indicates the child is suspected of having a
disability, written notice for evaluation and child assessment must be provided
and written consent must be obtained by the services coordinator prior to the
evaluation and child assessment being conducted;
(B) Coordinate screenings, evaluations, and
assessments, and assist families to understand the screening and
multidisciplinary evaluation team (MDT) process and how it relates to the Early
Intervention Program; and
(C)
Maintain contact with the family during the screening and evaluation period and
assist the multidisciplinary evaluation team (MDT) as appropriate. If, at any
time during the screening process, the parent requests and consents to an
evaluation, the service coordinator must immediately provide written notice and
obtain consent for the evaluation and child assessment from the parent and
inform the district or approved cooperative accordingly.
007.02
ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICES
COORDINATION. The family is eligible for ongoing services
coordination when the multidisciplinary evaluation team (MDT) evaluation
supports the child's eligibility for early intervention services. A child is
eligible and may be referred for services coordination through the end of the
school's fiscal year, August 31, in which the child reaches age three.
007.02(A)
INELIGIBILITY. When the screening or multidisciplinary
evaluation team (MDT) evaluation does not support eligibility for early
intervention services, the child and the child's family is not eligible to
receive services coordination through the Early Intervention Program.
007.02(B)
SERVICES
PROVIDED. The family's need and priority for services coordination
is jointly determined and documented by the Individualized Family Service Plan
(IFSP) team, including the family and the services coordinator. The amount and
duration of services coordination is based on the documented need, is provided
in accordance with Department policy and standards, and is identified in the
Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).
007.03
POST-REFERRAL
TIMELINES. The screening, evaluation, and assessment of the child,
family assessment, and the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meeting
must take place within 45 calendar days of the referral.
007.03(A)
EXTENDED
TIMELINE. The family may extend the 45-day process at any time. In
this circumstance, the Early Intervention Program must document that the family
does not want to complete the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) within
the required timeline. The 45-day process timeline also does not apply when the
child or parent is unavailable to complete the screening, the initial
evaluation, the initial assessments of the child and family, or the initial
Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meeting due to exceptional family
circumstances that are documented in the child's record; or the parent has not
provided consent for the screening, the initial evaluation, or the initial
assessment of the child, despite documented, repeated attempts by the services
coordinator to contact the family or obtain parental consent. When the family
wants to resume the process, the screening, initial evaluation, initial
assessments, and the initial Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meeting
must be completed as soon as possible after the documented exceptional family
circumstances no longer exist or parental consent is obtained.
007.04
DENIAL
NOTICE. For children who do not qualify for early intervention
services, the services coordinator must:
(A)
Send the family written notice of denial or termination on the required
Department form. This notice must contain:
(i) A clear statement of the action to be
taken;
(ii) A clear statement of
the reason for the action;
(iii) A
specific policy reference which supports such action; and
(iv) A complete statement of the family's
right to appeal.
(B)
Service delivery ends and the case is closed.
