Supporting Infants and Toddlers: Being a Voice for Early On®

February 16,2016Christy Callahan

Mina Hong

Who We Are• Early On® Michigan Foundation works to

enhance the supports available to Michigan families of infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities.

• Michigan's Children is a statewide, independent voice working to ensure that public policies are made in the best interest of children from cradle to career, with a focus on reducing disparities in child outcomes.

What is Early On®

• Michigan’s system of early intervention services, under Part C of IDEA, designed to connect and provide families with social, health and educational supports and services that will promote the development of infants and toddlers with special needs.

• Emphasizes early identification and early services for optimal development

• Home-based services that supportfamilies function with their routines

Early On Kids Served

• June 2015 child count was 8805 children and their families at a “point in time”

• Served 18,420 during 2014-15• 40% of the children receive Michigan Special

Education support• 60% are Part C Only

Early On Challenges• Two-tiered system• Inadequate funding, particularly for Early On

only children• Inequitable funding for Early On across the

state• Wide range of eligibility for Special Ed – 0% of EO population to 77% of EO population

• Challenges around Medicaid

Two-Tiered System• Early On eligibility is divided into two systems – Michigan

Mandatory Special Education for birth – 3-year-olds and Early On only

• MMSE services supported through state appropriation, Medicaid, and local special ed millages and regulated by MDE-OSE/MARSE rules

• Early On only supported through federal IDEA Part C funding, and in the minority of ISDs with Medicaid and local special ed millages. EO regulated by MDE-OGS/MI’s IDEA Part C state plan, and IDEA regulations

• Services are often inadequate for Early On only families

Funding for Early On• Approximately $11.8 million in federal funding or

$645 per child. Local and intermediate school districts are left to supplement funding, utilizing state special education dollars and local millage dollars in a manner that is inconsistent across the state.

• Michigan is in the minority of states that does not provide a state allocation for Part C services.

• It is estimated that appropriate early intervention services would cost approximately $8,000 per child

Nationally Reported Part C Revenue$3,699,504,353

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%Other

Private Insurance

Local Government

State Special Education

County Tax Levy

Part C

State General Funds

Medicaid

State Part C Appropri-ation

$3,699,504,353

Medicaid Challenges• Medicaid is the second largest source of funding

supporting early intervention services nationally• Since many ISDs support Early On only children

with services funded through Michigan’s federal Part C allocation, those federal dollars can’t be used to match Medicaid dollars.

• Michigan must figure out how to not only maximize Medicaid funds but also how to best support ISDs to do that.

State Auditor General Report

• Significant deficiencies in the Early On system related to service provision for “Early On only” infants and toddlers

• Points to lack of funding as cause• Michigan Department of Education plan to

address Audit includes seeking state funding

What Does Michigan Need?

1. Like the majority of other states, Michigan needs state investment in Early On services.

2. Maximize Medicaid for early intervention services.

3. Move toward a single-tier system

Where Does Michigan Stand?• Growing recognition of the importance of Early On and

need for investment:– As it relates to the Flint water crisis– Statewide early childhood advocates and other advocate voices

(i.e. Jr. League)• Acknowledgment among Special Ed Directors that Early On

is in urgent need of additional resources.

But, Michigan continues to be an outlier state in terms of investment in IDEA Part C services. We must do more!

Early On and the State Budget

• Early On support for Genesee ISD in response to Flint water crisis – both in the current fiscal year through supplementals and in FY2017

• No statewide investment for Early On in the Governor’s budget recommendation for FY2017

Your Voice Matters

• The inadequacies in the Early On system impact the special education system

• You are uniquely situated to understand the disparities in services available between Early On and Michigan special education

• Constituent voice is more important than ever both as it relates to term limits and an election year

Why Should You Advocate?

• You Can You already have the skills you need. It doesn’t take that many of us.

• You Should There are things we want changed. Democracy=Responsibility. We are elected

officials’ bosses. Decision-makers REALLY need our help.

How Do We Affect Change?• Get the attention of the people who can make the

change you want.• Talk to Decision-Makers.

Life concern(s) Concern(s) about their work

• Connect to Other People. Issue(s) Policymaker’s views or positions How to act

What We Need to Know

• WHAT we are talking about – the issues

• WHO can give us what we want – the players

• WHEN to target them – the process

• HOW to get them to listen – the message

Advocacy Opportunities• Educate legislators on the issue:– Meet with legislators in your district – coffee hour– Invite your legislators to community meetings

focused on Early On that includes families served– If appropriate, invite legislators to attend an Early

On home visit• Engage the media around Early On• Utilize the elections to educate candidates

about Early On

Moving Advocacy into Action

How Do We Convey Our Message?1. What is Early On and why should legislators care

about it? 2. What do you need legislators to understand

about Early On? 3. What do you want legislators to do about Early

On?4. Who would be good partners to engage?5. Who would be good messengers to help you

carry your message with legislators?

Develop an Advocacy Plan• Things to consider:– Who are your elected officials and what are their

perspectives on Early On?– Who do you need and what do you need them to know and

do? • Currently elected officials?• Future candidates? • Early On stakeholders?

– What is your goal?• Identify 2 next steps you can take when you return to

your community.

Stay Connected

• Join the Early On Coalition for monthly phone call updates on state-level advocacy for Early On and how you can help

• Sign-up for Michigan’s Children’s bulletin

Christy Callahancallahan_c@ccresa.orgwww.1800earlyon.orgwww.earlyonfoundation.org

Mina Hongmina@michiganschildren.org www.michiganschildren.org

Questions?