Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 210 - Executive Office of Health and Human Services › Chapter 30 - Medicaid for Children, Families, and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Adults › Subchapter 15 - Early Intervention › Part 1 - Early Intervention Program (210-RICR-30-15-1) › Section 210-RICR-30-15-1.11 - Comprehensive Child Find System

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Child Find
				  efforts shall be coordinated by the EOHHS with all state agencies and relevant
				  community programs (e.g., Department of Education, Department of Human
				  Services, Maternal and Child Health, Newborn Hearing Screening, Medicaid EPSDT,
				  Department of Children, Youth and Families, Head Start, Early Head Start and
				  First Connections Program). Screening (by Primary Care Providers, DOH Family
				  Visiting Programs, and other community programs), direct referrals and public
				  awareness, shall be implemented concurrently on a statewide basis to ensure
				  that all infants and toddlers in the state who are eligible for services are
				  identified, located, and evaluated.
B. Newborn screening shall occur for every
				  child born in Rhode Island and includes screening at birth for risk factors
				  related to developmental delay, or adverse developmental consequences.
				  Follow-up screening shall occur at periodic intervals between birth and through
				  age two (2). This initial screening may occur in the hospital and will continue
				  via other health care providers in the community.
C. In-home screening, for all those
				  identified as having risk factors, is a comprehensive process that is intended
				  to identify children in need of additional services. After in-home screening is
				  completed, and on-going risk factors have been identified, the child and
				  family's needs will be addressed through a community based review process.
				  Alternatively, children who are determined to have probable eligibility for EIS
				  shall be referred to an EI service provider.
D. All early intervention service providers
				  certified by the EOHHS shall implement a standard direct referral process as
				  outlined in the Rhode Island Certification Standards which permits families and
				  community-based agencies to refer infants and toddlers directly to programs for
				  screening, evaluation and assessment to determine eligibility for
				  EIS.
E. Referrals will be made by
				  primary referral sources (i.e., hospitals, physicians, parents, child care
				  centers, LEAs, public health facilities, other social service agencies and
				  other health care providers) within seven (7) working days after the child is
				  identified.
F. All children under
				  the age of three who are involved in a substantiated case of child abuse or
				  neglect or are identified as affected by illegal substance abuse or withdrawal
				  symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure shall be referred to
				  EI.
G. The EOHHS shall establish
				  and implement a public awareness program that focuses on the early
				  identification of infants and toddlers with disabilities and provides
				  information to parents of infants and toddlers through primary referral
				  sources. Information is made available to families and the general public as
				  well as primary referral sources.