ABQJOURNAL OPINION/GUEST_COLUMNS: Program a Good FIT for Kids

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Program a Good FIT for Kids

By Jim Copeland
Executive Director, Alta Mira Specialized Family Services
      In the vast expanse of all of the budget and Pre-K/child care discussions lies an oasis in the lives of over 12,000 New Mexican families. That oasis comes in the form of early intervention.
       Early intervention is for infants and toddlers, birth to 3, who have or are at risk for a developmental disability or delay. This program in New Mexico is known as the Family Infant Toddler program. It is operated by the Department of Health and is funded in part with federal monies through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. IDEA is more commonly known for public school special education. Those services are Part B of IDEA. FIT is funded under Part C of IDEA.
       FIT services are delivered by a network of community-based provider agencies. Every county in New Mexico has a provider agency serving families in their local communities. Services are provided in natural environments, which in most cases is the family home. For families dealing with the realities of a child with or at risk for a developmental disability or delay, these services provide the support and encouragement necessary to promote the child's development while minimizing the effects of the disability or delay.
       The Legislative Finance Committee in its report on Investments in Early Childhood, released in May 2009, stated: FIT has good performance measures and generally has met its performance goals for FY 07 and FY 08. The FIT program uses a best practice of posting a program accountability report on its Web site, detailing its individual contractor performance results.
       Referrals come through a variety of ways. Physicians may refer a family. Family members may self refer if they suspect any sort of developmental issues. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act requires that children be referred for evaluation after a substantiated case of domestic violence or child abuse.
       Eligibility is determined in part by a multidisciplinary evaluation. The evaluation is designed to determine the current developmental level of the child. These evaluations are conducted by a team of at least two professional disciplines trained in child development.
       New Mexico state law gives parents an option that allows their child to remain in the FIT program until the start of the school year after the child's third birthday. As a result of that option, New Mexico received $5.8 million in federal stimulus funding to offset the cost of serving these kids. New Mexico also provides these services to children who are at risk of developmental delay due to environmental or medical/biological risk. New Mexico is one of six states and/or territories that provide services to kids who are at risk of not getting an equal start in life.
       One of the results of the FIT program in New Mexico is that fewer kids start kindergarten with an undiagnosed disability or delay. Part of the process of Part C is the transition process. Children leaving the FIT program are evaluated to determine their eligibility for Part B. Transition occurs between the local FIT provider and the public schools. Transition conferences are held between the public schools, the provider agency, and the family.
       When all of the pieces FIT together, the child is the immediate beneficiary. But statistics show us that society in general benefits the most. Studies show that for every $1 spent on early childhood services there is an estimated savings of up to $17 later in the life of that child. Whether that be in reduced dropout rates, reduced crime rates, or reduced lives spent in poverty, we all benefit when we provide children with a good FIT.
       Jim Copeland also is the chair of the state Interagency Coordinating Council.

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