eNotes
August 26, 2016In this Issue:
- Preschool Pay for Success Feasibility Pilot - Invitation to Apply Source: U.S. Department of Education - August 22, 2016
- New Guidance and Data Related to Infants with Possible Congenital Zika Virus Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - August 26, 2016
- OSEP Policy Letter Regarding Multidisciplinary Evaluations under Part C of the IDEA Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs - August 18, 2016
- Updated Early Childhood State Policy Profiles Source: National Center for Children in Poverty - August 22, 2016
- Journal of Early Intervention Abstract Available Online Source: DEC's Journal of Early Intervention - OnlineFirst August 11, 2016
- Engaging Parents, Developing Leaders: A Self-Assessment and Planning Tool Source: Annie E. Casey Foundation - August 9, 2016
1. Preschool Pay for Success Feasibility Pilot - Invitation to Apply
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) recently announced the availability of $2.8 million for a new Preschool Pay for Success Feasibility Pilot grant competition for state, local and tribal governments interested in exploring the feasibility of Pay for Success to expand and improve early learning. The feasibility studies will determine if this model is an effective strategy to implement preschool programs that are high-quality and yield meaningful results. The Notice Inviting Applications was published in the Federal Register on August 22, 2016. The deadline for submitting an intent to apply notice is September 12, 2016. Applications are due on October 6, 2016. Grants will be awarded before December 31, 2016.
Information about two technical assistance webinars for potential applicants (August 30th and September 8th) can be found on the Applicant Information page of the Preschool Development Grants -- Pay For Success website. See also, a related ED blog post and the announcement on http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/earlylearning/index.html
2. New Guidance and Data Related to Infants with Possible Congenital Zika Virus
The following two new reports related to infants with possible congenital Zika virus are now available online. Additional resources for families and for healthcare providers can be found on CDC's Zika website.
- Update: Interim Guidance for the Evaluation and Management of Infants with Possible Congenital Zika Virus Infection-United States, August 2016 (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 65(33), August 26, 2016) - This revised guidance updates recommendations for the initial evaluation and testing of infants with confirmed or possible congenital exposure to Zika infection, and establishes recommendations for the outpatient management and follow-up of infants with laboratory evidence of congenital Zika virus infection, with or without apparent associated birth defects. The guidance also emphasizes that families and caregivers will need ongoing psychosocial support and assistance with coordination of care.
- Estimating the number of infants that may be born with congenital Zika virus infection and microcephaly following the Zika outbreak in Puerto Rico, 2016 (Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics, Online First, August 19, 2016) - In this report, CDC scientists estimate that 5,900-10,300 pregnant women might be infected during the Zika virus outbreak in Puerto Rico in 2016, in the absence of effective interventions. Of these, they estimated that 100-270 infections might lead to microcephaly in infants between mid-2016 and mid-2017. These estimates underscore the importance of the urgent actions being taken in Puerto Rico to prevent Zika virus infection during pregnancy and the need to plan for medical and supportive services for families affected by Zika.
3. OSEP Policy Letter Regarding Multidisciplinary Evaluations under Part C of the IDEA
The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) has published a new policy letter (August 18, 2016) regarding multidisciplinary evaluations, eligibility, and screening procedures under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Additional OSEP Memos, Dear Colleague Letters and Policy Letters are also publicly available online. A subset of OSEP guidance documents related to the early childhood provisions of the IDEA (Part C and Part B, Section 619) can be accessed on the ECTA Center Web site.
4. Updated Early Childhood State Policy Profiles
The National Center for Children in Poverty has just updated its Early Childhood State Policy Profiles. The profiles provide a two-generation view of current policies affecting children birth to age 8, nationally and state-by-state, in the areas of early care and education, health, and parenting/family economic supports. This update includes three new policies that identify states offering a minimum of 28 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits, Medicaid-covered maternal depression screening under the child's Medicaid, and an online dual-benefit application for Medicaid and SNAP that helps families gain access to these benefits.
5. Journal of Early Intervention Abstract Available Online
An abstract of the following article is now available online at http://jei.sagepub.com/content/early/recent
A Brief Coaching Intervention for Teaching Naturalistic Strategies to Parents
Justin D. Lane, Jennifer R. Ledford, Collin Shepley, Theologia K. Mataras, Kevin M. Ayres, and Alicia B. Davis
The Journal of Early Intervention (JEI) is an official publication of the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children and SAGE Publications. It offers articles related to research and practice in early intervention for infants and young children with special needs and their families. Freely available Podcasts of interviews with JEI authors can be accessed online.
6. Engaging Parents, Developing Leaders: A Self-Assessment and Planning Tool
A new tool, Engaging Parents, Developing Leaders: A Self-Assessment and Planning Tool for Nonprofits and Schools (August 2016), aims to help nonprofit organizations evaluate their family engagement and capacity-building activities and determine next steps toward building deeper partnerships with parents and caregivers.