The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which is responsible for monitoring Early Intervention (EI) programs throughout the state, has recently reconfigured its' monitoring process. In collaboration with the National Center for Special Education Accountability and Monitoring (NCSEAM) , the Massachusetts ICC, and a statewide stakeholder group composed of providers, parents, Higher Education, and other EI stakeholders, DPH has developed a Focused Monitoring system.

Focused monitoring will better address accountability and quality of early intervention services. The new protocols will focus on program improvement and include a focused monitoring approach. "Focused Monitoring is a process that purposefully selects priority areas to examine for compliance/results while not specifically examining other areas for compliance to maximize resources, emphasize important variables and increase the probability of improved results" -- NCSEAM Advisory Board.

Data that is collected from EI programs is used in this system of Focused Monitoring to track priority indicators and is used to select early intervention programs that require an onsite visit. Department of Public Health Regional Specialists and Parent Team Members gather information during this onsite visit and then compile a report to the program identifying areas of non-compliance with state standards and federal regulations.

For the year 2006 these priority indicators were Service Coordination and Transition. Five EI programs will receive an onsite visit for the Service Coordination indicator which looks at the activities done by Service Coordinators to assist families in organizing the supports and services on their IFSP. Five EI programs will receive an onsite visit for the Transition indicator which looks at the processes used when a family is no longer eligible for EI services.

What can families who receive EI services do?

Families are an integral part of this process in many ways. Family input is extremely important to get a full picture of how a program operates. During each onsite visit families whose children are enrolled in or have recently graduated from that EI program will be asked to volunteer to participate in a focus group or interview. Parents may also complete a survey about their experiences before the onsite visit. All of this information along with interviews with EI staff, EI administration, community providers and file review will be used to complete a final report.

For more information, please call Faith Piaggi at the Parent Leadership Project at 1-877-353-4757.