13.1.0. General Requirements

Policy

Reference/Related Documents

13.1.1  The Developmental Evaluation and Intervention (DEI) component will be implemented via contracts between the Department of Health and each Local Early Steps (LES). Each contract will specify that DEI services are contingent upon available funding.

391.303(1), F.S.

391.306, F.S.

13.1.2  Each LES will make a determination, based on the availability of funding, whether DEI services will be established at any hospital in the LES service area that provides Level II or Level III neonatal intensive care services.

391.303(1), F.S.

13.1.3  Each LES which implements the DEI component will have a program director, a medical director, and necessary staff to implement DEI services.

391.303(2), F.S.

13.2.0. Eligibility for DEI

Policy

Reference/Related Documents

13.2.1  A child under the age of three whose parents/legal guardians live in the state of Florida is eligible for services under the DEI component when they meet medical and financial eligibility criteria.

391.303(1), F.S.

13.2.2  To confirm that the infant or toddler meets the medical eligibility requirements for DEI, the LES must include in the child’s record written documentation that the infant or toddler:

A.      Was born in or transferred to a level II or III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

B.     Has a medical condition associated with later developmental delay.

Operations Guide 13.2.2

391.303(1), F.S.

13.2.3  To confirm that the infant or toddler and family meet the financial eligibility requirements for DEI, the LES must confirm that the child and family meet the financial eligibility for Medicaid.

Operations Guide 13.2.3

391.303(1), F.S.

13.2.4  The family of each infant or toddler determined eligible for the DEI component will be informed in writing of eligibility within five (5) working days of eligibility determination.

Operations Guide 13.2.4

13.3.0. DEI Services

Policy

Reference/Related Documents

13.3.1  The array of available DEI services will include, at a minimum:

A.      Individualized family support planning

B.     Service coordination

C.     Hospital discharge planning

D.     In-hospital or post hospital discharge developmental surveillance

E.     Parent support and training.

Operations Guide 13.3.1

391.302, F.S

391.303(2), F.S.

13.3.2  When conducting developmental surveillance for a child who is only eligible for DEI, DEI staff will perform a multidisciplinary evaluation only when a new concern has been identified or a multidisciplinary evaluation has not been previously performed.

Operations Guide 13.3.2

13.3.3  Determination of developmental status of a child receiving only DEI services will be measured by:

A.      Conducting a developmental questionnaire such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) or other appropriate parent report tool face-to-face or by telephone, or

B.     Mailing a developmental questionnaire to families with instructions on how to check their child’s development and what to do/whom to contact if they have concerns, or

C.     A combination of face-to-face visits, telephone contact and mailed questionnaire.

13.4.0. DEI IFSP

Policy

Reference/Related Documents

13.4.1  Each child who is receiving only DEI services will have an IFSP which will describe the infant or toddler and his or her family, the services the infant or toddler and his or her family need, and the intended outcomes of the services.

Operations Guide 13.4.1

391.303(2)(b), F.S.

13.4.2  Each child receiving only DEI services will have a multidisciplinary team who will meet, as necessary, to develop and update the DEI IFSP.

391.303(2)(b), F.S.

13.4.3  In addition to the family, the DEI multidisciplinary team for each child will include two or more of the following disciplines: a physician, physician assistant, psychologist, psychotherapist, educator, social worker, nurse, physical or occupational therapist, speech pathologist, others who are involved with the in-hospital and post-hospital discharge plan, and anyone the family wishes to include as a member of the team.

391.303(2)(b), F.S.

13.5.0. Termination from DEI

Policy

Reference/Related Documents

13.5.1  A child and family must be terminated from the DEI component when the multidisciplinary team determines that the child is functioning within normal limits in all domains and the child and family are no longer in need of DEI services or the family requests termination.

13.5.2  When, as a result of developmental surveillance, the multidisciplinary team determines that a child who is only eligible for DEI is potentially eligible for IDEA, Part C, an IDEA Part C referral will be made and all timelines and procedures for IDEA, Part C referral will apply.

13.5.3  A child previously eligible for only DEI  who becomes IDEA, Part C eligible will be opened to IDEA, Part C in the Early Steps data system.