AzEIP Professional Development System

Presentation Objectives  What mandatory requirements and attributes should I look for when contracting/hiring early intervention practitioners?  What are my contractual obligations before/after contracting/hiring an early intervention practitioner?  What are the mandatory trainings required for early intervention practitioners?  Who do I contact for questions and support?

Arizona Early Intervention Services  Team-based early intervention services are provided to children who are eligible for: - Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) - DES/Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) - Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (ASDB)

AzEIP Personnel Qualifications Qualifications: (1) Educational qualifications (2) Standards of Practice Categories of personnel: ( a) Core team members (b) Service Coordinators (c) Other team members 4

Educational Qualifications Core Team Members and Service Coordinators:  Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in: Early childhood; EC special education, Family Studies, Speech-Language Pathology, Physical Therapy, or Occupational Therapy; OR  Bachelor’s degree in a closely related field and approval by DES/AzEIP; or  Developmental Special Instructionist and Service Coordinators hired in the AzEIP system before July 1, 2001

Certification & License Occupational & Physical Therapist  Current, valid Arizona license from the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners to practice OT.  Current, valid Arizona license from the Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy to practice PT. Speech &Language Pathologist  Current, valid Arizona license from the Arizona Department of Health Services to practice as a speech- language pathologist.  SLP-CFY: must possess a valid, temporary Arizona license and approved supervision plan.

Therapy Assistants  Therapy assistants shall not provide services under this Contract. - Physical Therapy Assistants (PTA) - Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) - Speech-language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA)

Psychologist Qualifications  Federal Law : - Requires professionals to meet the State approved certification, licensure or registration for the profession in which s/he practices  Arizona Law: - Licensed by the Arizona Board of Psychology Examiners or certified by the Arizona Department of Education as a school psychologist

Social Worker Qualifications  Federal Law : - Requires professionals to meet the State Approved certification, licensure or registrations for the profession in s/he practices  Arizona Law : - Licensed by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (baccalaureate or masters degree)

Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (ASDB ) Vision Specialist  Vision Specialist: Certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired (CTVI)  ADE Special Education Certificate – Visually Impaired Hearing Specialist  Hearing Specialist: Certified Teacher of the Deaf/ Hard of Hearing (TOD)  ADE Special Ed. Certificate- Hearing Impaired

Psychologist, Social Worker Vision and Hearing Specialists  Are not part of the Core Team  May provide evaluation and assessment and act as a Team Lead  May act as a team lead/ fulfill team lead requirements  Attend team meetings for children when identified on the IFSP

Additional Recommended Competencies Evidence Based Practices Parent and Parenting support Adult Interaction and Adult Learning M’Lisa L. Shelden & Dathan D. Rush

Efforts to Recruit Personnel (Shortage of DSI and SC)  Ongoing good-faith efforts to recruit and hire appropriately and adequately trained personnel;  Document shortages of qualified personnel that meet the State’s qualification;  Hire the most qualified personnel available who are making progress towards completion of qualification

Recruitment of License Personnel  Creative Ideas  Connecting with the Universities  Sharing staff with community partners  Incentive Packages  Advertisements within discipline specific newsletters

Other Considerations for EI Personnel  Can not transport any child/family enrolled in early intervention services;  Only provide services to a child in the presence of adult family member(s) or other caregivers.  Mandatory CPS reporters

Hiring Requirements  Personnel Qualifications  Fingerprint  Criminal history/ background check

Standards of Practice Describes the knowledge and skills necessary for effective early intervention services  Knowledge Component- Training and Tests -Policies Training  Skill Component-Apprenticeship 17

New Hire Training  Must complete all training requirements - I-TEAMS Registration - DES/AzEIP Trainings - DES Trainings - DDD Trainings

Department of Economic Security (DES) Mandatory Training  Mandatory training for all Non-State employees: - DES Contractors - Volunteers - Temporary Staff  Use Event Registration and Management Application (ERMA)  All are Computer Based Training (CBT)

DES Mandatory Training (Non-State Employees)  ADA 504 Compliance Overview  ADA 504T Compliance Overview Exam  DES Initial Security Training  DES ISA Annual Security Awareness Training Recertification  Limited English Proficiency Overview- Course Study  Limited English Proficiency Overview- Course Exam

DDD Required Trainings  Risk Assessment  Article 9

AzEIP TA System Personnel  DES/AzEIP Staff and Other Trainers  AzEIP Technical Assistance & Monitoring Specialists  AzEIP Family Technical Assistance & Monitoring Specialist  Technical Assistance Cadre 22

Things to consider….  Agency’s procedures for new employees : - Employee Handbook/Resources - Procedures for new employee training - Internal process for ongoing trainin g  Employee Status: - Defining full-time; part-time; contractors hours - Requirements/responsibility of each team member as part of the team

Arizona Professional Affiliations AZ Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners : AZ State Board of Physical Therapy: AZ Board of Psychologist Examiners : Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (Social Work): AZ Dept. of Health Services (Speech-Language Pathologist): 24

National Professional Affiliations  National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)  Division of Early Childhood (DEC)  ECTA Center:  OSEP Funded TA Cennter:  Zero to Three  Professional Associations  American Speech-Language-Hearing Association  American Occupational Therapy Association  American Physical Therapy Association 25