eNotes
June 19, 2020Updates from the ECTA Center
Equitably Serving Children with Disabilities and their Families during COVID-19
The ECTA Center is committed to promoting equity in the systems and services that support young children with disabilities and their families. The COVID-19 pandemic has given us all the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to equity. During this time when IDEA services are being delivered virtually or remotely, states must be intentional in ensuring that services are being provided equitably. In this resource, four guiding equity statements provide a framework for how states may begin to examine equity in early intervention and preschool special education systems and services. The guiding statements address the tenants of IDEA; strong family partnerships; innovative and responsive service delivery; and prepared and supported personnel. Questions accompany each statement that can help facilitate equity discussions between system leaders, administrators, and teachers and direct service providers.
Short Video on ECTA Web Resources on COVID-19, Remote Service Delivery and Distance Learning
This short video features the various resources that support teachers, providers, and parents to enhance the continuity of learning for children with disabilities, and their families, during the pandemic.
State Part C Guidance for Increasing In-Person Activities During COVID-19
State Part C programs are in various stages of planning to increase in-person activities related to workplace operations and service delivery. IDEA Infant & Toddler Coordinators Association (ITCA) has begun posting state guidance for increasing home visits and in-person services. Guidance from Indiana, Missouri, and Texas are now available. Guidance covers health and safety precautions for staff to return to offices, family homes and other natural environment settings.
Shared TA Calendar
A new resource will eliminate having to check four websites to find out what technical assistance activities and opportunities are available from each of the four OSEP-funded early childhood IDEA centers. The shared TA calendar hosts events, webinars, and meetings sponsored by ECTA, DaSy, ECPC and NCPMI.
News from the Field
Responding to COVID-19 and Building for the Future
COVID-19 has increased the need for better early childhood data. For early childhood education to succeed in the post-COVID-19 era, states will need data systems that can meet the evolving needs of families, educators, and policymakers. This brief offers ways that states can address that issue including through PDG-B5, by following key principles of development, and taking specific action steps that will improve child and family outcomes.
State of Babies Yearbook
As our country continues to face the COVID-19 pandemic, policymakers and advocates can use the data from the State of Babies Yearbook to identify and advance policies that produce the near-term support and long-term stability that babies and families need. The story of America's babies is told through key indicators that infants and toddlers need to thrive. Those indicators - good health, strong families, and positive early learning experiences - provide policymakers and advocates data to help them advance policies to improve the lives of babies and families.
CDC: Guidance for Direct Service Providers, Caregivers, Parents, and People with Developmental and Behavioral Disorders
This new page from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) includes helping them think through needed accommodations, modifications, and assistance for the people they serve who have developmental and behavioral disorders. Guidance includes continuing developmental monitoring and screening during COVID-19 as well as assisting parents in supporting their children's distance learning.
CDC: COVID-19 in Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups
This new page from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides factors that influence the health of dis-proportionally vulnerable racial and ethnic minority groups. They are living conditions, work circumstances, underlying health conditions, and lower access to care. Options to mitigate these circumstances are offered from federal, community, healthcare and public health perspectives.
ITCA Infographic Templates
The IDEA Infant & Toddler Coordinators Association (ITCA) has developed three infographic templates to help IDEA Part C programs highlight their data, illustrate how programs operate, and demonstrate reasons for early intervention's value.
The Early Intervention Data template offers a colorful format that presents program data concisely and clearly. Data points include the number of children referred and served, increase in the number of children served over a five-year period, breakdown of referral sources, family outcomes, and planned services.
Operation of an Early Intervention Program showcases how programs operate in order to fully support its children and families. Services highlighted include audiology, service coordination, transportation and social work and associated supports include accountability and quality of services and providers.
Positive results for children and a reduction in the need for special education are among the top 5 Reasons Why Early Intervention is Valuable. Programs can customize the infographic by adding their logo, a quote, or an overview of program specific information.