Early Intervention and Child Abuse & Prevention Act (CAPTA)

1. Early Intervention and Child Abuse & Prevention Act (CAPTA) Marina L. Merrill (ODE) Stephanie Stafford (DHS)

2. CAPTA States receiving CAPTA funds must develop and implement “provisions and procedures for referral of a child under the age of 3 who is involved in a substantiated case of abuse or neglect to early intervention services funded under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act” [106(b)(2)(A)(xxi)].

3. IDEA 2004 • States must provide “a description of the State policies and procedures that require the referral for early intervention services under Part C of a child under the age of 3 who is involved in a substantiated case of child abuse or neglect” [637(a)(6)(A)]

4. What does this mean? Each Local Child Welfare office and county Early Intervention (EI/ECSE) program have an interagency agreement that ensures that child victims of abuse or neglect, birth to age 3, are referred to the EI/ECSE program in the county that the child resides.

5. Child Welfare Responsibility • Local Child Welfare workers will refer children under the age of 3, who are victims of child abuse or neglect to Early Intervention services. • The standard CAPTA Referral form (CPS Early Intervention Referral) designed for this mandate is required. • Each Child Welfare office will use FACIS case notes to record all children referred to the EI/ECSE program.

6. EI/ECSE’s Responsibility • Minimally, each child must receive a valid and reliable developmental screening to determine eligibility for Early Intervention. • County EI/ECSE programs may use developmental information provided by other agencies or providers as part of the screening process to determine need for conducting an evaluation.

7. CW & EI Joint Responsibility • Child Welfare Administrative Rule directs Child Welfare staff to refer ALL children who fall under this mandate to local EI/ECSE programs to refer each child within 30 days of the founded date.

8. Why implement links between child welfare and Part C? • Highest rates of abuse and neglect occur in infants and toddlers • 16.1 per 1000 children under age 3 • High rates of developmental delay in this population • 23-61% of children known to CW have delays in development, communication, behavior

9. What are EI/ECSE Services? • EI provides access to individualized interventions at no cost to the family. • To receive services through EI, children from birth to 3 years must meet eligibility requirements by either having a documented established condition, physical disability, or a developmental delay in one or more areas. • EI performs multidisciplinary evaluation of the child to assess cognitive, motor, social, language, and adaptive functioning. • EI develops plan for intervention (IFSP) and coordinates services to address child's needs.

10. EI Eligibility • Children ages birth through two years of age with Significant Delays in one or more of the following domains: • Cognition • Communication • Physical including hearing and vision • Social or Emotional • Adaptive

11. CAPTA Referral Status in Oregon • Data Suggests Under referral Approximately 21.29% of potential referrals made For further Information on ‘Early Intervention Referrals’ visit: • http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/children/committees/capta.shtml