Child Find and Initial Referral

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The Nebraska Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, as Co-Lead Agencies, ensure that -

1. All infants and toddlers with disabilities in the state who are eligible for early intervention services are identified, located, and evaluated; and
2. An effective method is developed and implemented to identify children who are in need of early intervention services (92 NAC 52-006)

Child Find for Early Development Network (EDN) and the identification of eligible infants and toddlers are year-round requirements conducted by the Planning Region Teams (PRTs), school districts, and services coordination agencies.

Referrals can be made to the EDN by anyone who suspects a developmental delay in an infant or toddler. Additionally, referrals to EDN can be made for infants and toddlers who have a high probability of developmental delay due to medical conditions, prenatal drug exposure, substantiated cases of abuse/neglect, etc. Referral sources may include but are not limited to: parents, guardians, other family members, physicians, other health care providers, well-baby clinics, social service or child-protection programs, foster care, child care providers/programs, homeless family shelters, domestic violence shelters, and community-wide screening programs. Written parental consent is not required to refer an infant or toddler to EDN; however, parents should be informed prior to referring the child.

The services coordination agency is considered the central point of entry into EDN. When a referral is made to the school district or approved cooperative it must be forwarded to the services coordination agency in the planning region as soon as possible but in no case later than seven (7) days after becoming aware that the child may be eligible for early intervention services. (Rule 52 006.01D1)