 Families are the Foundation of Wisconsin's Birth to 3
Program
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on how to order copies)
Partnerships Are The Building Blocks
A service coordinator will provide you with information about the Early
Intervention Program. This person will also assist your family through the initial steps
in the early intervention process. A service coordinator will remain involved with your
family throughout your participation in Birth to 3.
The first meetings with your service coordinator are an opportunity for you to share
information about your experiences with your child, and communicate any concerns that you
have (there is a checklist at the end of this guide that you
might want to use to help prepare for meetings with your service coordinator or other
service providers). The service coordinator will arrange for your child's evaluation and,
if your child is found to be eligible for early intervention, will organize the
assessment.
After these steps are completed, you and the early intervention professionals will have
more information about your child's strengths and needs and your family's concerns and
priorities.
 The
next step will be for you to meet with your service coordinator and other early
intervention service providers to identify the outcomes you hope your child will achieve.
Then you will develop a plan (IFSP) for
strategies, supports and services designed to achieve those outcomes. The service
coordinator will be knowledgeable about early intervention services, community resources
and available funding sources. Your service coordinator will be responsible for
coordinating the variety of early intervention and other services needed. He or she will
help you learn about community resources and will work with you to obtain appropriate
services.
Even though you have a service coordinator, you will to some degree act as a co-service
coordinator for your child and family's early intervention program. Families often invest
time in finding information and arranging for needed services. The time that you have
available may fluctuate according to your family's activities and needs. The amount of the
service coordination responsibilities you choose to share will depend on your schedule and
your preferences.
By openly sharing information about your concerns as well as the
strengths and uniqueness of your family, you will be assisting your service coordinator to
identify services that will give you and your family the kind of support you would like.
As you contribute in the decision making, a partnership will develop among you and the
other members of your team. From the moment of referral through the planning of your
child's and family's service plan, all decisions will be developed in a collaborative
manner with your full agreement and
participation. While it may take time for you to feel comfortable and trusting of
professionals who will become so intimately involved in your family's lives, remember the
process is built on partnership in decision making.
 Service coordinators have at least one year of
supervised experience working with families with special needs and have demonstrated
knowledge and understanding of children ages birth to three. They understand state and
federal regulations, the nature and scope of Birth to 3 services available and how those
are financed. Ch.
DHS 90
(exit DHS) |
Identification and Referral 
Last Revised: March 24, 2009 |
