Chapter 3 : Section 8.2

Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP)

Policy

The Department shall promptly refer all children under the age of three who are the subject of a substantiated Report or who have been removed and in DCS custody for early intervention services. A substantiated Report includes the following findings: proposed substantiated, proposed substantiated-perpetrator deceased and proposed substantiated-perpetrator unknown.

The Department shall refer all children under the age of three:

who have been removed and in DCS custody, to Integrated Rapid Response for a developmental screening and a behavioral health assessment;
who are the subject of a substantiated Report, but not in DCS custody, to the AzEIP for early intervention services.

Procedures

Implementation

Gather available information including clinical and medical reports on the child from previous medical and behavioral health care providers.

Obtain health insurance information (i.e., AHCCCS, etc.) from the parent, guardian or custodian.

Within 24 hours of the removal, refer all children under the age of three to Integrated Rapid Response (IRR) for a developmental screening and behavioral health assessment.

If the child’s primary care provider (PCP) has completed the EPSDT examination and identifies a developmental concern, provide this information to Mercy Care DCS CHP.

Ensure that the parent and/or out-of-home caregiver is aware of the developmental concern and the AzEIP referral.

If the Integrated Rapid Response Assessment (IRRA) indicates that the child has a developmental concern, the IRRA provider will:

Make the referral to AzEIP for early intervention services.
Notify the DCS Specialist of the results and of the AzEIP referral.

Include AzEIP providers as part of the Child and Family Team.

Ensure the child's PCP is informed of the AzEIP referral.

If the IRRA indicates that the child does not have a developmental concern, the IRRA provider will notify the DCS Specialist of the results. The Assigned Behavioral Health Clinic will provide necessary behavioral health services to the child, the child’s family and out-of-home provider.

The referral to AzEIP may also be completed on the DES website. Ensure that the concerns and/or reasons for the referral are documented in the Reason for Referral/Concerns Section of the referral. It is not necessary to make a referral if the referral has already been made by another source, or the child is receiving AzEIP services.

Ensure that the child’s legal status and eligibility for Mercy Care DCS CHP is recorded on the DCS Referral to Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) or in the Concerns Section of the AzEIP Online Referral Application.
Fax or mail any reports from previous medical, clinical or behavioral health assessments or evaluations to the AzEIP regional contractor.
List all services the family is receiving or has been referred to on the DCS Referral to Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) or in the Concerns Section of the AzEIP Online Referral Application. AzEIP will ensure that services are not duplicated.

If the child is in out-of-home care and changes placement during the referral process, ensure that the AzEIP regional contractor is aware of the change in placement. Provide the name, address and telephone number of the new caregiver to the AzEIP contractor.

Identification of a Surrogate Parent

A surrogate parent must be appointed to represent the child’s special educational interests under IDEA, Part C if the parent, guardian, step-parent or relative with whom the child resides is not available, willing and able to perform this function. If the child is a ward of the court and a surrogate parent is required to represent the child’s special educational needs [see page 2 of the DCS Referral to Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP)], contact the Assistant Attorney General to file a motion to appoint the identified person as the child’s surrogate parent.

Documentation

Ensure any previous assessments or medical examinations including diagnosis of a developmental delay or established condition is documented in the Health tab. Coordinate with DCS CHP at CHPNurse@azdcs.gov if any assessments or diagnoses need to be updated.

Document the referral to the AzEIP by filing a copy of the DCS Referral to Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) or a printed copy of the AzEIP Online Referral Application in the hard copy record. To obtain a copy of the AzEIP Online Referral Application, you must print the screen prior to submitting the referral. Upload a copy of the referral as an Artifact in Guardian.

If the referral was made by another source, document the referral by obtaining and filing a copy of the referral in the child’s case record, or by documenting verbal confirmation of the referral in Notes .

If the child is receiving AzEIP services, document this in Notes.