Service Coordination

• With your permission, help arrange for your child’s evaluation;
• Help you arrange for transportation to your child’s evaluation, if you need it;
• Attend your child’s evaluation if you wish;
• Inform you that, in NYS, EI services must be provided at no cost to your family. However, NYS’s system of payment for the EIP includes the use of public insurance (such as Medicaid and Child Health Plus) and private insurance (such as United Healthcare and others) for reimbursement of EI services;
• Collect information and documentation about your child’s insurance coverage, including public and private insurance. This information includes: the type of insurance policy or health benefits plan, the name of the insurer or plan administrator, the policy or plan identification number, the type of coverage in the policy and any other information needed to bill your insurance; and
• Explain your rights and responsibilities regarding your family’s health insurance, and answer your questions about the protections the law provides for family insurance benefits.

• Answer your questions about the EIP;
• Set up a meeting to work on your Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP);
• Help you understand what this meeting will be like, who else must be there, and who can be invited;
• Explain how your health insurance can be used and that early intervention services will be at no cost to you;
• If your child is uninsured, the ISC is responsible for assisting you in identifying and applying for benefit programs for which your family may >be eligible, including Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Social Security Disability Income, however, you are not required to enroll in order for EIP services to be provided;
• Obtain information about the status of your family’s private insurance coverage and Medicaid status;
• Help you resolve any problems that might come up – including disagreements about the service(s) you and your child might need;
• Give you information on other programs and services which can help your family, including, the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) eligibility and available programs and services;
• Discuss with you and your child’s evaluators whether your child is potentially eligible for programs and services under the OPWDD; and
• With your consent, notify the appropriate OPWDD contact person of the potential eligibility of your child for OPWDD programs and services. If you are interested, your service coordinator will help you make a referral to OPWDD.

If the evaluation shows that your child is not eligible for the EIP, your ISC will tell you about other services that may help. If you disagree with the evaluation findings, you can appeal the decision. You may review the section on “Your Rights as a Parent in the Early Intervention Program” to see the options you have, if you disagree with the evaluation findings.

E. SHOLOM, Inc Ongoing Service Coordinator

At your first IFSP meeting you will be asked to select an Ongoing Service Coordinator (OSC) who may be different from your ISC. Choosing your OSC is an important decision. This service coordinator will be responsible for putting your IFSP into action.

Your Ongoing Service Coordinator will also be responsible for:

• Talking with you about any scheduling or other needs that your family may have that will impact the assignment of providers;
• Reviewing your IFSP to identify your child’s and family’s early intervention service needs;
• Contacting you to confirm scheduling, services, and other needs;
• Assigning and arranging for providers to deliver services in the IFSP who are approved by and under agreement with the New York State Department of Health;
• Arranging contact between you and your assigned provider(s);
• Coordinating EI services with other services your family is getting, such as day care services;
• Making sure your child and family get all the services in your IFSP;
• Following-up with you and your assigned provider(s) to make sure the scheduling and first day of service occurs within the required timeframe;
• Informing you about advocacy services;
• Making sure six-month reviews and annual evaluations of your IFSP are completed;
• Helping you make any changes to your IFSP that may be needed between six-month reviews and annual evaluations;
• Updating your family’s insurance information as the need arises. You should let your OSC know if there are any changes in the family’s insurance policy, including Medicaid and Child Health Plus;
• Notifying school districts of the potential transition of your child from the EIP to preschool special education services; and
• Meeting with you to develop a transition plan that will include the steps needed to help you and your child leave the EIP and begin new services.