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eNotes
A News Service from the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
Current and past issues of eNotes can be viewed and searched online at http://www.ectacenter.org/enotes/enotes.asp
ECTA
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eNotes
Policy letters from the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) dated April 1, 2008 through June 30, 2008 related to the education of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities are now available online at http://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/letters/2008-2/index.html
On November 13, 2008 the Federal Register published a list of these letters with summaries included. See http://www2.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/other/2008-4/111308c.html
A subset of OSEP policy letters that specifically address Part C and Section 619 of the IDEA can be accessed via the NECTAC Web site at http://www.nectac.org/idea/clarfctnltrs.asp
The Partnership for America's Economic Success is inviting businesses and community organizations to apply for awards of up to $10,000 to help finance state business summits on the importance of early childhood investment. Interested organizations should notify the Partnership of their intent to apply by Dec. 16, 2008. Completed applications are due on Jan. 16, 2009. State summits must be held prior to Dec. 31, 2009. The Request for Proposals is posted online at http://www.partnershipforsuccess.org/docs/RFP_StateSummits20081120.pdf
The National Health Law Program has recently published a fact sheet on the Medicaid Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program, which addresses the following questions:
The National Center for Children in Poverty has recently published the following two new reports:
Unclaimed Children Revisited: The Status of Children's Mental Health Policy in the United States, by Janice L. Cooper, Yumiko Aratani, and Jane Knitzer - Updates a 1982 report on mental health services in the U.S. for children and youth with mental health problems, those at risk, and their families - http://www.nccp.org/publications/pub_853.html
Low-Income Children in the United States: National and State Trend Data, 1997-2007, by Michelle Chau and Ayana Douglas-Hall - Brings together national and 50-state data on the characteristics of low-income children over the past decade - http://www.nccp.org/publications/pub_851.html
On November 19, 2008, the Commonwealth Fund, Voices for America's Children, First Focus, and the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) sponsored a webinar entitled Improving Children's Healthy Development Through Federal Policy Change. A recording of the event and presentation slides can be accessed at http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Resources/2008/Nov/Webinar--Improving-Childrens-Healthy-Development-Through-Federal-Policy-Change.aspx
Charles Bruner, director of the Child and Family Policy Center and lead author of Improving Child Health Care Through Federal Policy: An Emerging Opportunity, discussed prospects for the 2007 federal legislative child health proposals under President-elect Obama and the 111th Congress. Alan Weil, director of NASHP, discussed the state perspective on federal children's health reform. Michael Linden, senior director of First Focus, discussed strategies for enacting federal well-child care reform. Ed Schor, Commonwealth Fund vice president, moderated.
The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) recently published a short paper about the role of occupational therapists in supporting families and children with disabilities as they transition between early intervention, preschool, kindergarten, middle school, high school and ultimately, from school to adult life. It is available online at http://www.aota.org/Consumers/WhatisOT/FactSheets/Children/Transitions.aspx