Post by laurasnowbird on Jul 18, 2005 17:10:04 GMT -5
I know that we have a somewhat (ROTFL!) vocal contingent from Michigan, so I was hoping that some or all of you would submit some comment regarding early intervention services in Michigan.
The State Interagency Coordinating Council has authorized a re-design of early intervention services. (Birth to three, called Early On) This redesign is in response to many forces and factors, and as parents of children with disabilities, many of us have experienced first-hand the impact of the shrinking budgets of many of the community partners of Early On. As budgets shrink both at the state and federal level there is an increasing need to show that the programs that we currently enjoy are producing results. A few years back, early intervention services were actually CUT OUT of the budget at the federal level, because there was simply no data available to show that these programs work. Some strong advocacy got the programs restored to the budget, but it came with the understanding that for funding to continue in the forseeable future, we have to be able to show that early intervention works!
The federal government has commissioned a group to develop a list of desirable outcomes for early intervention, with the idea that states will be required to show that the children and families they serve are making progress toward these outcomes. The group is the Early Childhood Outcomes Center, and if you are interested in looking at the outcomes they have developed, you can see them at www.the-eco-center.org .
Michigan has decided that in the redesign process, we will use the outcomes developed at the behest of the feds (OSEP) to develop indicators that are measurable to track progress of our children and families. Aren't we smart? LOL.
Here is where you can make a difference, and I'm quoting from the redesign website: "July 7, 2005 - The Leadership Team for the Early On Redesign is seeking stakeholder comment and input on a draft set of indicators for Early On. These draft indicators are based on a review of research, legislation and best practice documents. Comments received will be used as part of Redesign Step 6, Results Teams, as part of the process that will be used to finalize the indicators."
Public comment is invited until July 22, 2005, and the Results teams meet to discuss the public comment on July 29, 2005. As a member of one of the Results teams, let me tell you that your input is EXTREMELY valued and important. When we sit down to discuss the indicators, we are ONLY going to be allowed to work with the public comments at this point. If you want to take the survey, but have trouble submitting it, please send me an message with your phone number, and I will call you and get your comments from you!
P.S. If you want to track the progress of the Michigan redesign process, the website is www.earlyonresdesign.com If you would like to receive e-mails regarding actions taken and opportunity for public comment (and there will be more opportunity!), you may subscribe at this link: www.earlyonredesign.com/Subscribe.php
For those in other states, the outcomes developed by The ECO Center will affect every state when the work is completed, so you can subscribe to their e-mails to keep informed about their progress. Use the eco-center link above, and there is an option at the top of the page to subscribe to ECO-mail.
This is a very unique opportunity for us as parents. We have a far better idea of what our children need than the policy makers sometimes do, so make your voice heard!
The State Interagency Coordinating Council has authorized a re-design of early intervention services. (Birth to three, called Early On) This redesign is in response to many forces and factors, and as parents of children with disabilities, many of us have experienced first-hand the impact of the shrinking budgets of many of the community partners of Early On. As budgets shrink both at the state and federal level there is an increasing need to show that the programs that we currently enjoy are producing results. A few years back, early intervention services were actually CUT OUT of the budget at the federal level, because there was simply no data available to show that these programs work. Some strong advocacy got the programs restored to the budget, but it came with the understanding that for funding to continue in the forseeable future, we have to be able to show that early intervention works!
The federal government has commissioned a group to develop a list of desirable outcomes for early intervention, with the idea that states will be required to show that the children and families they serve are making progress toward these outcomes. The group is the Early Childhood Outcomes Center, and if you are interested in looking at the outcomes they have developed, you can see them at www.the-eco-center.org .
Michigan has decided that in the redesign process, we will use the outcomes developed at the behest of the feds (OSEP) to develop indicators that are measurable to track progress of our children and families. Aren't we smart? LOL.
Here is where you can make a difference, and I'm quoting from the redesign website: "July 7, 2005 - The Leadership Team for the Early On Redesign is seeking stakeholder comment and input on a draft set of indicators for Early On. These draft indicators are based on a review of research, legislation and best practice documents. Comments received will be used as part of Redesign Step 6, Results Teams, as part of the process that will be used to finalize the indicators."
Public comment is invited until July 22, 2005, and the Results teams meet to discuss the public comment on July 29, 2005. As a member of one of the Results teams, let me tell you that your input is EXTREMELY valued and important. When we sit down to discuss the indicators, we are ONLY going to be allowed to work with the public comments at this point. If you want to take the survey, but have trouble submitting it, please send me an message with your phone number, and I will call you and get your comments from you!
P.S. If you want to track the progress of the Michigan redesign process, the website is www.earlyonresdesign.com If you would like to receive e-mails regarding actions taken and opportunity for public comment (and there will be more opportunity!), you may subscribe at this link: www.earlyonredesign.com/Subscribe.php
For those in other states, the outcomes developed by The ECO Center will affect every state when the work is completed, so you can subscribe to their e-mails to keep informed about their progress. Use the eco-center link above, and there is an option at the top of the page to subscribe to ECO-mail.
This is a very unique opportunity for us as parents. We have a far better idea of what our children need than the policy makers sometimes do, so make your voice heard!