Essentially the fund is a two percent set aside of the state appropriation and the money is used for reimbursing MAWA agencies for programs for children that are extraordinarily expensive in terms of services provided. The Department has received and reviewed request from ten MAWA agencies for funds this fiscal year. Approximately, sixty percent of this fiscal year's contingency fund will be going out to MAWAs. Dr. Price also spoke about a joint effort between the Department of Education and the Department of Public Welfare to do presentations on transition. Since that time, the Departments have received several requests to do additional presentations.
Additional presentations are in the process of being scheduled.
Dr. Price gave preliminary figures from the December 1 child count. In some areas figures are down. Dr. Prices also provided an update on the recommendation of the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of early intervention to find out what happens to children after leaving the early intervention program. He said that a draft of the study has been completed. The study was done by Dr. Naomi Zigman of the University of Pittsburgh who will be meeting with the Department to review the results of the study.