Service Coordination under IDEA

The regulatory definition of service coordination and a description of responsibilities and activities of service coordinators are available at 34 CFR 303.23.

Within the parameters of IDEA's regulations, states have much discretion in developing their service coordination system. States and communities have different approaches or models of service coordination. Service coordinators may be "dedicated", meaning that service coordination is their only role. In a "blended" or primary service provider model, all of the professionals on the Early Intervention team may perform the functions of service coordination for their assigned families in addition to providing a specific EI service. Service coordination caseloads vary according to the different models, and whether or not there are standards or maximum limits.

See Part C Service Coordination: State Policies and Models (PDF: 176kb) for more information.

Service Coordination Caseloads in State Early Intervention Systems (PDF: 107kb) - This document describes the different state approaches to service coordination.

Information about service coordination in your state is available from the state Part C Program Coordinator

Early Steps Training by Children's Medical Services, Department of Health - Florida's Part C Program includes 3 orientation modules for all Early Steps providers and a training module for the Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist.

Maryland's Early Childhood Tutorial - The purpose of the tutorial is to provide an up-to-date, evidence-based training resource for early intervention and special education administrators, providers, and families. Three modules on Evaluation and Assessment, the IFSP and Transition, include legal requirements, essential content, reflection and activities and recommended readings with annotations.

Missouri's First Steps Training Modules - These courses are designed to give providers new to the program skills for working with families in their natural environment. In addition to a statement of beliefs and principles of the Early Intervention System, courses include Orientation, Evaluation and Assessment, and IFSP Outcomes in Natural Environments. Two additional courses are "underconstruction", Transition and a specialized module on Service Coordination.

This guide is a self-study resource for service coordinators (PDF: 3,332kb) that contains guidelines about eligibility requirements and coverage of health plans and other funding sources throughout New Mexico.

The Texas Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) program created 5 Web based Training Modules to support ECI providers to improve practice. Titles include the following:

Fundamentals of Service Coordination for the Wisconsin Birth to 3 Program - Fundamentals of Service Coordination is an electronically-based learning module for new and veteran service coordinators in Birth to 3. Service coordinators must be well-trained, well-informed and have a variety of skills. This training provides users with the latest resources, practical strategies, articles for study, references to the law, discussion questions and hands-on activity suggestions related to the service coordinator's role. Learners will have the opportunity to read case-based scenarios and apply what they have learned. An online orientation and a archive of webinars are also available.

The Other Side of ICWA: A Cultural Journey to Fairness & Equity (Version 1.0) -A Curriculum for culturally sensitive social work practice with Native Americans from the California Social Work Education Center. The training is for child welfare social workers, supervisors, and other professionals working with Native American youth and communities. The materials and activities focus on trust, relationship-building, the effects of historic and collective trauma on the Native American experience, and culturally sensitive communication and needs assessment.

The Research and Training Center is a national initiative to examine the status of service coordination for children with disabilities and their families receiving early intervention services under Part C of IDEA.

Based on the Research and Training Center's recent research on perceived outcomes of early intervention, ERIC has prepared a News Brief -- What Do Professionals and Parents Want from Early Childhood Services?

Young children with disabilities often have many medical issues and it is essential to link the care systems of early intervention, education and health. The medical philosophy and practice of family-centered care parallels family-centered practices in early intervention. There is also a parallel emphasis on care coordination and service coordination in order that families can easily access integrated services and community supports.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides a policy brief with descriptions of role of families and primary care pediatricians and recommendations for assuring quality care coordination. Use the link below to go the AAP policy statements. Enter the key words: "care coordination" in the search engine to locate the policy statement.

Within the National Center of Medical Home Initiatives for Children with Special Needs (National Center) a training program has been developed for primary care physicians, pediatric office staff, child health advocates, allied health care professionals, and parents of children with special needs. The medical home training program focuses on how to ensure that children with special needs have a medical home (care that is accessible, family-centered, continuous, comprehensive, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally competent) in changing health care environments.

This is the final report of the three-year study entitled An Outcomes-Based Approach to Evaluating Service Coordination Models (PDF: 221kb) . The purpose of the study was to investigate three commonly used Part C service coordination models, examining the degree to which services are delivered efficiently, including a cost analysis, as well as their effect on child and family outcomes. The goal of this project was to identify those service coordination strategies that best support system efficiency and child and family quality of life and developmental outcomes.