Children with Special Needs - NCEMCH

1 caring for Children with Special Needs Training Module version 4, revised 2/12/2013 The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants, UNC-CH, 2013 i caring for Children with Special Needs Training Module version 4 (Revised 2/12/2013) Copyright Information NTI has obtained permission from the copyright holders to reproduce certain quoted material in this document. All such material is clearly designated with the expression, Reproduced with permission. Trainers may not reproduce such material for any purpose without themselves obtaining permission directly from the copyright holders. All other material contained in this document may be used and reprinted by NTI Trainers for training purposes without Special permission.

2 Use of the following citation, however, is requested and greatly appreciated. _____ Suggested Citation The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants. caring for Children with Special Needs training module, version 4. Chapel Hill (NC): The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants, Department of Maternal and Child Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; 2013. _____ This version of Children with Special Needs is based on the original version, written by Brenda Dennis, Katherine Laveck and The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants in 1999. Supported by grant U46MC00003 from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, US DHHS.

3 caring for Children with Special Needs Training Module version 4, revised 2/12/2013 The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants, UNC-CH, 2013 ii NOTE TO TRAINER This training Module presents information on caring for Children with Special Needs in the child care setting. The Toolkit includes a Trainer s Guide to leading training sessions, PowerPoint slides, and materials for participant s packets. For more information about using the NTI materials, please read Guidelines for Using the NTI Curriculum Materials, available in the Curriculum section of the NTI Resources Website (accessed by entering your NTI username and password at ).

4 caring for Children with Special Needs Training Module version 4, revised 2/12/2013 The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants, UNC-CH, 2013 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS LEARNING INTRODUCTION: THE ROLE OF THE 3 caring FOR OUR Children NATIONAL STANDARDS (3rd ed., 2011)..4 WHAT THE CCHC SHOULD KNOW: TERMINOLOGY AND PREVALENCE OF Children with Special Action Items for the WHAT THE CCHC SHOULD KNOW: OBSERVATION/SCREENING AND COORDINATION OF SERVICES .. 11 Action Items for the CCHC .. 13 WHAT THE CCHC SHOULD KNOW: INCLUSIVE CHILD CARE .. 14 Definition of Inclusion .. 14 Rationale for Inclusion.

5 14 Challenges of 16 Program Action Items for the CCHC .. 18 WHAT THE CCHC SHOULD KNOW: MEDICAL HOME AND INTEGRATED Action Item for the WHAT THE CCHC SHOULD KNOW: WORKING with PARENTS/CAREGIVERS AND SUPPORTING 22 Action Items for the WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION .. 25 REFERENCES .. 28 APPENDIXES .. 30 caring for Children with Special Needs Training Module version 4, revised 2/12/2013 The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants, UNC-CH, 2013 2 LEARNING OBJECTIVES After reading this Module, Trainers will be able to - describe the role of the CCHC in assisting child care staff caring for Children with Special Needs , - be familiar with the caring for Our Children standards for caring for Children with Special Needs in child care settings, - understand the observation process and screening tools for a child who may have Special Needs , - refer a child for developmental screening and/or formal assessment.

6 - define inclusion, - describe federal laws requiring early childhood inclusion, - identify benefits of and challenges to early childhood inclusion, - understand the family's perspective on caring for a child with Special Needs , - list possible program considerations for Children with Special Needs , - describe integrated therapy and how best to work with an early intervention specialist, and - understand how the concept of medical home relates to Children with Special Needs . caring for Children with Special Needs Training Module version 4, revised 2/12/2013 The National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants, UNC-CH, 2013 3 INTRODUCTION: THE ROLE OF THE CCHC Accepting Children with Special Needs (CSN) into a child care facility can be daunting for both parents/guardians and child care staff.

7 Families want to know their child will be appropriately cared for and that staff understand and are prepared to respond to their child s Needs . Child care staff may have concerns about whether they have the appropriate level of training and resources and may have questions about best practices for adapting materials and activities and the coordination of care with other care providers. The CCHC can provide consultation to a child care facility preparing to serve a child with Special Needs in a number of ways and at different stages of the enrollment and care for a child with Special Needs . The CCHC might consult with child care facilities regarding the legal requirements for including CSN.

8 They could help program administrators complete a self-assessment to determine how prepared they are to serve Children with Special Needs . The CCHC could provide information about evidence-based ways to include CSN in programs. A CCHC might work with child care caregivers/teachers to ensure that they are comfortable responding to the child s health Needs . Once a child with a Special need is enrolled, the CCHC may also serve as part of the team to ensure ongoing reevaluation of the care plan to meet the changing Needs of the child, family, and facility. The CCHC can play a key role in facilitating access to family-centered and appropriate services and in ensuring effective transitions.

9 For a CCHC to be most effective in assisting child care facilities and families of Children with Special Needs the CCHC must be knowledgeable regarding the service system for Children with Special Needs in the county and state in which the family resides. While federal laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) apply to all states, each state has adopted different eligibility requirements and modifications and has its own unique service system. As the CCHC becomes familiar with and able to navigate the early intervention system in their area, they will be better able to assist programs and families by providing education and making appropriate referrals.

10 There are many Children with Special Needs in the United States and many of them will spend time in child care settings. Thus, integrating CSN into the child care facility will need to become part of regular child care practice and policy and CCHCs will need to be equipped with practical advice around what full integration in a child care program looks like and the role they play in helping families. This Module does not provide information for what to do for a child with a specific need. Instead, this Module will look to present Children with Special Needs in an overarching manner in order to address Special Needs broadly and as a means to place the child care facility in a larger context of coordinated care.