Service Coordination in
Early Intervention
Service coordination is a mandated part of early intervention under the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 2004 Section 34 CFR 303.23). The federal law lists
the functions the service coordinator is responsible for including coordinating all services
across agency lines and serving as the single point of contact in helping parents to obtain
the services and assistance they need.
According to IDEA Service coordination is an active, ongoing process that
Involves
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Assisting parents of eligible children in gaining access to the early intervention
services and other services identified in the individualized family service plan
Coordinating the provision of early intervention services and other services (such
as medical services for other than diagnostic and evaluation purposes) that the
child needs or is being provided
Facilitating the timely delivery of available services
Continuously seeking the appropriate services and situations necessary to benefit
the development of each child being served for the duration of the child's
eligibility
The activities of service coordination include
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Coordinating the performance of evaluations and assessments
Facilitating and participating in the development, review, and evaluation of
individualized family service plans
Assisting families in identifying available service providers
Coordinating and monitoring the delivery of available services
Informing families of the availability of advocacy services
Coordinating with medical and health providers
Facilitating the development of a transition plan to preschool services, if
appropriate
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Implementing Service Coordination
States vary in the way they conduct service coordination and their requirements for
service coordinators. Here are some examples from across the United States:
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Arizona
https://egov.azdes.gov/CMSInternet/uploadedFiles/Arizona_Early_Intervention_P
rogram/tab_2_service_coordination.pdf
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Michigan http://www.1800earlyon.org/about.php?ID=17&sub=22
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Wisconsin: http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/birthto3/WPDP/Contents.html
Resources
Dunst, C.J. & Bruder, M.B. (2006). Early intervention service coordination models and
service coordinator practices. Journal of Early Intervention. 28(3), 155-165.
Harbin, G.L., Bruder, M.B., Adams, C., Mazzarella, C., Whitbread, K., Gabbard, G. &
Staff, I. (2004). Early intervention service coordination policies: National policy
infrastructure. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education. 24(2), 89-97.
National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
http://www.nectac.org/topics/scoord/scoord.asp
Outcome based approach for evaluating service coordination models
http://www.nectac.org/~pdfs/topics/scoord/FINALOUTCOMESREPORT_Roberts.pdf
Research and Training Center on Service Coordination, University Connecticut Health
Center http://www.uconnucedd.org/Projects/RTC/Default.htm
Cite As: Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development.
Contemporary Practices in Early Intervention: Service Coordination in Early
Intervention Factsheet. 2009.
Available online at http://www.gucchdgeorgetown.net/CPEI.
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