eNotes
December 15, 2021Updates from the ECTA Center
Telepractice for Part C Early Intervention Services: Considerations for Effective Implementation and Medicaid Reimbursement
This information will support states in securing Medicaid coverage for telepractice as a method of service delivery beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. To plan for the continued successful use of telepractice, states will need to:
- make decisions based on all available data,
- explore state and federal policies and requirements,
- consider and respond to issues related to Medicaid reimbursement,
- develop policies, procedures, and
- provide information and supports for families, providers, and state staff.
States can use the state examples, resources, and information in the four appendices to develop their own state-specific policies, procedures, and written guidance for using Medicaid dollars to reimburse for telepractice.
ECTA Launches Racial Equity Web Page
As part of the work of its Racial Equity Leadership Team, the Early Childhood Technical Assistance (ECTA) Center has developed this topical page of curated racial equity resources. It is comprised of five sections, Data; Early Education Anti-Racism; Language and Terminology; Organizational Culture and Change; Policy (State and National); and Professional Development. The webpage will be updated regularly.
These curated resources focus on the myriad and far-reaching implications of racial inequities in early childhood special education and early intervention. They contribute to individual growth and systems change efforts that center racial equity by highlighting policies, practices, and strategies that can bring about equitable outcomes for children and families.
New Tip Sheet in Series: Evaluating the Implementation of Evidence-based Practices
Tip Sheet 5: Analyzing Data for Decision-Making is the latest in the series of tip sheets that explore the steps involved in determining analysis goals and questions. This tip sheet also provides examples of analysis approaches for common questions related to the implementation of evidence-based practices. The series of tip sheets provide concise guidance for collecting and analyzing high-quality data on the implementation of evidence-based practices. The content was designed for staff of state and local early intervention (IDEA Part C) and preschool programs for children with disabilities (IDEA Part B 619), but it is relevant for anyone evaluating the implementation of evidence-based practices. The tip sheets address topics that state personnel identified in webinars and workshops that the Center for IDEA Early Childhood Data Systems (DaSy) and the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) offered in partnership with the National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI) and the IDEA Data Center.
News from the Field
Autism Prevalence Higher in CDC's ADDM Network
This press release states that among a network of 11 communities across the country there was an increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder identified in 8-year-old children. Data reported in March 2020 show a one in 44 (2.3%) prevalence while current data show 1 in 54 (1.9%) prevalence.
"The substantial progress in early identification is good news because the earlier that children are identified with autism, the sooner they can be connected to services and support," said Karen Remley, M.D., director of Center for Disease Control's (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. "Accessing these services at younger ages can help children do better in school and have a better quality of life."
The report was published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Surveillance Summaries. The 11 communities in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) network are in: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin.
State Actions to Prevent and Mitigate Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
This brief highlights the recent work of nine states (Alaska, California, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Wyoming) to prevent and mitigate adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and to implement trauma-informed practices at the state level. Experiencing adversity in early life can affect a person's health, well-being, and success into adulthood. COVID-19 brought additional attention to the impact of ACEs and trauma across the lifespan, which may be exacerbated by disruption in the lives of families; increased family stressors; income, food, and housing insecurity; social isolation; and school closures. ACEs are common across sociodemographic groups; however, they do not impact all sociodemographic subgroups equally - elevating ACEs as an important locus for states to address health equity. To mount an effective response to ACEs, states are implementing holistic approaches to promoting resilience for children and their families and adopting approaches that combine universal training, access to screening and treatment, improved data collection and reporting, and a commitment to transformative, cross-agency cultural change.