Announcements
Bunker Babies: Review of Preliminary Research on the Effects of COVID-19 on Young Children’s Development
Tracey Tasker, MBA, MA, CCC/SLP
IDA Co-Chair Membership Outreach and Belonging
Early Start Providers (805) asked to Participate in the Direct Service Provider Survey. Due June 30th, 2022
Beginning in May 2022, California will collect data from agencies employing Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) to collect information about factors impacting the workforce. The DSP workforce is experiencing challenges such as high turnover and vacancy rates, which can affect the lives of individuals needing support. Stakeholders have expressed support for learning more about the employment of DSPs to inform policy changes, design recruitment and retention efforts, and examine the impact of rate increases over time. The data collection effort will establish baseline information from which DDS, agencies, and stakeholders may assess challenges, evaluate the impact of existing initiatives and shape future policies to improve workforce stability.
Additional information can be found here:DDS Workforce Data Collection - CA Department of Developmental Services
If you received an email earlier this month asking for your participation we encourage you to provide your input. For any providers that want to participate, but did not receive a unique survey link from staffst[email protected], you can request to be included and receive unique survey link by emailing the [email protected]."
Assorted Actions Steps for Early Start: DDS Surveys, Updated Directives, Alerts
Department of Developmental Services releases updates on Directives: Check out extension of assorted Early Start Directives CLICK HERE They cover: Early Start transition to Special Education-7/5/22 ext.; Family Fees-7/4/22 ext.; Virtual services, etc.
Early Start Providers (805) asked to participate in the Direct Service Provider Survey. Due June 30th, 2022.
"Beginning in May 2022, California will collect data from agencies employing Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) to collect information about factors impacting the workforce. The DSP workforce is experiencing challenges such as high turnover and vacancy rates, which can affect the lives of individuals needing support. Stakeholders have expressed support for learning more about the employment of DSPs to inform policy changes, design recruitment and retention efforts, and examine the impact of rate increases over time. The data collection effort will establish baseline information from which DDS, agencies, and stakeholders may assess challenges, evaluate the impact of existing initiatives and shape future policies to improve workforce stability. Additional information can be found HERE:
Contact the Governor, and Your Legislators ASAP
The Governor's May Revise indicates changes in Early Start eligibility to 25%, not 33%. This is a positive step for many families and children in California to access Early Start services. However, the May Revise left out any funding for 2022 as part of moving the rate model finding sooner than later. Like many workforce areas, Early Intervention is struggling with recruiting and retaining staff.
IDA is organizing visits to communicate these needs to our Governor and our legislators. As an IDA member, you will be contacted shortly about joining this effort.
In the meantime, IDA is joining its partners in the Lanterman Coalition with outreaching via social media, etc. with these critical measures. Take a look and make a video, send a text, and post on Facebook......all very easy!
May Revise-CA Budget Released: New Direction for Early Start Eligibility
Friday saw Governor Newsom release his May revision of the CA Budget. CLICK HERE
The $300.6B budget contains lots of proposals. One for the Department of Developmental Services is EARLY START: ($6.5 million state general fund) to expand eligibility for early intervention services including: lowering the eligibility threshold for developmental delay from 33 percent to 25 percent; separating communication delays into two distinct categories (expressive and/or receptive language); and identifying Fetal Alcohol Syndrome as a risk factor for developmental delays.
DDS Shares Updates on Provider Rates!
Follow the timeline process on Rate Model:The rate models with the updated cost components as of February 2022 will be used to calculate the rate adjustment effective April 1, 2022. The Excel files listed by Regional Center and Programs are a comparison of the updated February 2022 rates, to the previous rates published in January 2020. More info
click here
Have you, Early Intervention Providers submitted your data information to your local Regional Center to be part of this process? Instructions for Completing Service Detail Collection Forms (ca.gov)
EARLY INTERVENTION Providers/Vendors have you been contacted by your Regional Center to complete program data forms
Instructions for Completing Service Detail Collection Forms (ca.gov)? If not, contact your local Regional Center ASAP. The timeline for release is quickly approaching.
They are needed for submission to the Department of Developmental Services as part of the implementation of the Rate Model?
Information about the Rate Model Implementation -
Rate Adjustment/Rate Study Implementation Briefing - Zoom Questions can be sent to:
[email protected]
Read Our Latest Post
Early Intervention for Children with High Likelihood of Autism
Aubyn Stahmer & Sarah Dufek, UC Davis MIND Institute
The average age of diagnosis for children with autism remains around 4 years of age in the United States, with children from historically underserved groups receiving a diagnosis over one year later than White children on average. However, we know that providing intervention as early as possible is critical to outcomes that deliver the best quality of life for children and their families as children with autism become adolescents and adults.
Read More
Continuing Education
IDA is an approved Continuing Education (CE) Provider for the following California Licensing Boards:
Board of Registered Nursing
#CEP12786
Physical Therapy Board of California Continuing competency courses
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board
#PDP248e
Note: We do not send CEUs to the ASHA registry. In order to receive ASHA CEUs, SLPs can submit a Certification Maintenance Compliance form by December 31st of their certification maintenance interval, forms can be found here. Participants should retain their certificates of attendance which are necessary if you are chosen for a random audit.
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