HD59 - Early Intervention Services for Handicapped Infants and Toddlers

  • Published: 1991
  • Author: Joint Subcommittee
  • Enabling Authority: Senate Joint Resolution 164 (Regular Session, 1990)

Executive Summary:
The subcommittee found that early intervention services are of vital importance and can prevent or mitigate numerous problems and endorsed Virginia's continued participation in Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Part H is a discretionary five-year federal grant program of early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. The Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services is the lead agency for the development and implementation of Part H which is required to be a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated and interagency system.

Virginia is currently in the third year of the five-year grant and when the fifth year commences, which will be no later than October 1992, all Part H services must be available on an equal basis to qualified children throughout Virginia. This is expected to require an appropriation of additional funds; however, the subcommittee did not receive sufficient information in its first year of study to determine the amount that will be required. Because the subcommittee did not receive sufficient information to determine the fiscal impact of Virginia's continued participation in Part H, a resolution was submitted continuing the study for an additional year so that fiscal issues and other issues that were identified during the course of the study could be examined more closely. Issues that will be studied in the second year include the extent of and remedies for the shortage of physical therapists and other professionals who provide Part H services and how responsibility should be delineated for two-year-olds who may be eligible for special education and/or Part H services. The subcommittee identified various actions that could be taken to enhance the Part H Program in Virginia prior to resolution of the major fiscal issues and made a number of recommendations designed to further the implementation of the Part H Program. The subcommittee feels that, in addition to furthering the Part H Program, its interim recommendations will improve the delivery of services to disabled children and their families. These recommendations are contained in House Joint Resolution No. 381, which was passed by the 1991 General Assembly.