Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 41 - PUBLIC HEALTH (§§ 41-1-1 — 41-149-NEW-003) › Chapter 87 - EARLY INTERVENTION ACT FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS (§§ 41-87-1 — 41-87-19) › Section 41-87-11 - Responsibilities of lead agency; participating agencies to cooperate with lead agency and council

(1)
The lead agency shall have the following responsibilities in the implementation of this chapter:
(a)
General administering and supervising programs and activities receiving Part C funds and the monitoring of programs and activities used by the state to carry out this chapter, whether or not such programs or activities are receiving Part C funds, to ensure that the state complies with this chapter;
(b)
Identifying and coordinating all available financial resources within the state from federal, state, local and private sources;
(c)
Developing procedures to ensure that services are provided to eligible children and their families in a timely manner pending the resolution of any disputes among public agencies or service providers;
(d)
Ensuring effective implementation of procedural safeguards by each public agency in the state that is involved in the provision of early intervention services;
(e)
Entering into formal interagency agreements that define the financial responsibility of each agency for paying for early intervention services (consistent with other state laws) and procedures for resolving intra- and interagency disputes and that include all additional components necessary to ensure meaningful cooperation;
(f)
Entering into contracts with agencies within a local community which have been designated by the lead agency as being a primary service agency within the community;
(g)
Developing procedures to ensure that available services are provided to eligible children and their families in a timely manner, pending the resolution of disputes among public agencies or service providers;
(h)
Resolving individual disputes in accordance with the regulations;
(i)
Adopting and using proper methods of administering each program including:
(i)
Monitoring of agencies, institutions and organizations receiving assistance under Part C of Public Law 102-119;
(ii)
Enforcing of any obligations imposed on those agencies providing early intervention services according to Part C of Public Law 102-119 and the standards of the state;
(iii)
Providing technical assistance to agencies in the program;
(iv)
Correction of deficiencies that are identified through monitoring;
(j)
Establishing state policies related to how services to children eligible under this chapter and their families will be paid for under the state's early intervention system in accordance with federal regulations;
(k)
Development of policies, standards and regulations necessary for implementation of the state early intervention plan that are in compliance with the federal regulations; and
(l)
Provision of technical assistance to localities in the establishment and operation of local interagency coordinating councils which may also be designated as primary service agencies for an area.
(2)
All participating agencies shall cooperate with the lead agency and the council in the implementation of this chapter.
Laws, 1990, ch. 554, § 6; Laws, 1993, ch. 424, § 5; Laws, 2001, ch. 392, § 4, eff. 7/1/2001.