Sec. 17a-248e. Individualized family service plans. Continuation of services by providers.
Sec. 17a-248e. Individualized family service plans. Continuation of services
by providers. (a) Each eligible child and his family shall receive (1) a multidisciplinary
assessment of the child's unique needs and the identification of services appropriate
to meet such needs, (2) a written individualized family service plan developed by a
multidisciplinary team, including the parent, within forty-five days after the referral,
and (3) review of the individualized family service plan with the family at least every
six months, with evaluation of the individualized family service plan at least annually.
(b) The individualized family service plan shall be in writing and contain: (1) A
statement of the child's present level of physical development, cognitive development,
language and speech development and self-help skills, based on acceptable objective
criteria; (2) a statement of the family's priority, resources and concerns relating to enhancing the development of the eligible child; (3) a statement of the major outcomes
expected to be achieved for the child and the family and the criteria, procedures and
timelines used to determine the degree to which progress toward achieving the outcomes
are being made, and whether modifications or revisions of the outcomes are necessary;
(4) a statement of specific early intervention services necessary to meet the unique needs
of the eligible child and the family, including the frequency, intensity and the method
of delivering services; (5) a statement of the natural environments in which the services
shall be provided; (6) the projected dates for initiation of services and the anticipated
duration of such services; (7) the name of the approved comprehensive service provider
that will provide or procure the services specified in the individualized family service
plan; (8) the name of the individual service coordinator from the profession most immediately relevant to the eligible child's or the family's needs who will be responsible for
the implementation of the plan and coordination with the other agencies and providers
or an otherwise qualified provider selected by a parent; and (9) the steps to be taken to
support the transition of the child who is eligible for participation in preschool programs
under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Act, 20 USC 1471 et seq., as appropriate.
(c) The individualized family service plan shall be developed in consultation with
the child's pediatrician or primary care physician.
(d) On and after July 1, 1996, the parent of any child who received early intervention
services, other than service coordination, from a provider prior to said date and remains
eligible for such services may choose to have his child continue to receive the services
from such provider.
(e) The lead agency may contract with providers to deliver early intervention services to eligible children and the families of such children, provided during the period
from July 1, 1996, to June 30, 1997, inclusive, the agency shall, in cases where substantially equivalent proposals are submitted, give preferential consideration to contracting
with regional educational service centers and local and regional boards of education
that provided such services, including service coordination, prior to July 1, 1996. The
lead agency in contracting for services shall monitor the expenditures for administrative
services, excluding evaluation assessments, and shall justify in writing, on or before
September 1, 1997, and annually thereafter, to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and
Management and the committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters
relating to appropriations and to public health, if such expenditure levels exceed twenty
per cent of the contracted amount.
(P.A. 96-185, S. 3, 16.)
History: P.A. 96-185 effective July 1, 1996.
See Secs. 38a-490a and 38a-516a re mandatory insurance coverage.