Early childhood policy and family engagement experts Leslie Fox and Jenine Schmidt will present on WestEd’s Collective Impact Model for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C Child Find (CIM-C) as part of a United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), federal partners panel at the Division for Early Childhood’s 40th Annual International Conference on Young Children with Disabilities and Their Families, held September 17–20, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
This year’s conference will focus on “The Future of Inclusive Practices: Creating Equitable Access, Participation, and Supports.”
WestEd and OSEP will share insights and lessons learned through the CIM-C project’s activities in rural Alabama, Guam, and Montana, including tribal communities on the Flathead Reservation. Our experts will share resources that address barriers to equity and discuss implications for policy for birth to three early intervention systems.
Wednesday, September 18
Federal Resources to Support Child Find (OSEP)
Time: 1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m. Central Time
Location: B7 – First Floor
Speakers: Jenine Schmidt (WestEd), Leslie Fox (WestEd), Christy Kavulic (OSEP), Mary Beth Bruder (University of Connecticut), and Bethanne Vergean (University of Connecticut)
Access to early intervention services is important for all children, particularly for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families who are traditionally underserved. During this session, resources developed by a federal interagency work group to support child find will be shared. OSEP-funded projects focused on child find will also share lessons learned. Learn more.
Friday, September 20
Where Do We Begin? Talking with Families about Developmental Screening
Time: 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. Central Time
Location: A6 – First Floor
Speakers: Jenine Schmidt (WestEd) and Leslie Fox (WestEd)
A community-driven, systematic approach to developmental screening and referral supports families’ equitable access to IDEA Part C services. This OSEP-funded project involved collaboration among rural IDEA Part C programs, community partners, and families to strengthen Child Find and resulted in culturally responsive approaches to screening and referral for underserved families. Learn more.