Parties to the Agreement
Purpose
Framework for Local Agreements
Description of Programs
      Head Start
      Part B
      Early Childhood Assistance Program
      Part C
Dispute (or) Conflict Resolution
Review of the Agreement
Term of the Agreement
Authorized Representatives of the Parties to the Agreement

Parties to the Agreement:

The parties to the Delaware Interagency Agreement for Service Delivery for Children with Disabilities and Their Families are the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Administration for Children and Families, Head Start Bureau – Region III and the Migrant Head Start Branch; the Delaware Department of Education; and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Birth to Three Early Intervention System.

Purpose:

Whereas, the Administration for Children and Families, Head Start Bureau – Region III including representation by the Delaware Head Start Association and the Migrant Head Start Branch; the Delaware Department of Education; and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Birth to Three Early Intervention System, have entered into an Interagency Agreement for the purpose of ensuring that state activities relative to early education for children with disabilities are coordinated between Delaware Head Start (HS) programs, Early Head Start (EHS) programs, Migrant Head Start (MHS) programs, Early Childhood Assistance Program (ECAP), school district programs, and early intervention programs to provide services; and

Whereas, the parties to this agreement recognize that parents and families have the primary responsibility for the development of their children and that agencies should seek partnerships with parents and families in all activities related to the provision of services for their children; and

Whereas, the purposes of this agreement are to improve the quality of services for Delaware’s children (birth to age five) with disabilities and their families and to promote and encourage collaboration among the parties to the agreement and their local counterparts; and

Whereas, federal statutes and regulations provide: (1) requirements for interagency agreements found in regulations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Parts B and C (20 U.S.C. 1400 et. seq.), related to state agreements, and (2) requirements for interagency agreements found in Head Start Program Performance Standards on Services to Children with Disabilities of 1993 (45 CFR 1308) related to local agreements and in Head Start Program Performance Standards of 1996 (45 CFR 1304) related to community partnerships; and

Whereas, this Interagency Agreement is a mechanism for the signing agencies to ensure their local counterparts meet their statutory requirements under a number of federal and state regulations including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B and Delaware Law, Head Start Program Performance Standards on Services for Children with Disabilities, 45 CFR Parts 1304, 1305, and 1308; and the Head Start Act, Section 640; and

Whereas, the Administration for Children and Families, Head Start Bureau – Region III and the Migrant Head Start Branch; the Delaware Department of Education; and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Birth to Three Early Intervention System have agreed upon a framework to be used at the community level to develop written interagency agreements in order to increase communication, coordination, and collaboration between local school district programs, Head Start (HS) programs, Early Head Start (EHS) programs, Migrant Head Start (MHS) programs, Early Childhood Assistance Program (ECAP), and early intervention programs serving children with disabilities birth to age five and to ensure:

• early identification, evaluation and provision of services to children birth to age 5 with disabilities;
• coordination of available resources, personnel and professional development opportunities from respective agencies and programs;
• coordination of community efforts aimed at inclusion and school readiness;
• implementation of activities aimed at empowering families to make informed decisions representing the best interests of their child; and
• shared transition practices and procedures at the local level.

Whereas, the Federal Interagency Coordinating Council, mandated by IDEA, has demonstrated the importance of interagency collaboration by establishing an agreement among the federal counterparts of the parties to this agreement;

Therefore, the Administration for Children and Families, Head Start Bureau - Region III and the Migrant Head Start Branch, the Delaware Department of Education, and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Birth to Three Early Intervention System, have entered into an agreement to recommend a framework of key elements to be included in interagency agreements between Head Start (HS) programs, Early Head Start (EHS) programs, Migrant Head Start (MHS) programs, local school district programs, Early Childhood Assistance Program (ECAP), and early intervention programs for the purpose of coordinating programs and services for children birth to age five with disabilities and their families at the community level in order to promote quality programs, enhance best practices, reduce duplication of services, and maximize the joint utilization of existing resources.

Framework for local agreements:
The parties to this agreement encourage local programs to develop written interagency agreements that address areas common to their programs. ... Those areas may include, but are not limited, to the following:

• Child Find /Screening
• Referral for Evaluation
• Evaluation Process
• IEP/IFSP Process and Implementation
• Placement/Natural Environments
• Service Provision
• Procedures for Review/Monitoring Child’s Progress
• Transition
• Staff Development
• System Coordination
• Problem Solving
• Confidentiality
• Agreement Review

Description of Programs:

Head Start

Head Start is a comprehensive federally funded child development program. Head Start grants are awarded by the Region III Department of Health and Human Services and the Head Start Bureau, Migrant Head Start Branch, to provide services to families and children including children with disabilities, migrant children, pregnant women and children birth through school entry. There are a variety of Head Start options, the specific focus determined by the program mission. The overall goal of all Head Start programs is to promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of low-income children through the provision of health, educational, nutritional, social, and other services that are determined based on a comprehensive evaluation of the child and family needs and the Head Start Performance standards. Ninety percent of the children served in Head Start programs must be at or below the federal poverty guidelines and at least ten percent of the enrolled children must have an identified disability. Services to children with disabilities are governed by Part 1308 of the Head Start Performance Standards. Currently in the state of Delaware, approximately seventeen hundred children are served by six community-based organizations and one university grantee.

Part B

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires that special education and related services be provided to eligible children ages 3, 4, and 5. The Department of Education is the agency responsible for ensuring implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. All school districts are responsible for providing these services for eligible children as determined by the IEP team. Services may include specialized instruction and related services such as speech therapy or occupational therapy. Services may be provided at home, in a community setting or a classroom in a district school building.

Children may be found eligible under any of the classifications listed in state regulations found in the Administrative Manual for Special Education Services. Children who are found eligible as autistic, deaf or hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired or deafblind may begin services at birth and are dually eligible for services through Part B and Part C.

All school districts will, with parental permission, provide evaluations at no cost for children suspected of having a disability or developmental delay. This process, called Child Find, includes locating, evaluating and identifying all children who may have a disability and be in need of special education services.

Early Childhood Assistance Program

The Early Childhood Assistance Program, overseen by the Delaware Department of Education, is a state funded, comprehensive, early education program for four year old children and their families. Eligibility is based upon income that must be at or below federal poverty guidelines. The Program follows the Head Start model and uses the Head Start Performance Standards as the foundation for the structuring and provision of services. Programs are offered throughout the state using a variety of grantee agencies such as Head Start Programs, school districts, early education programs, and institutions of higher education. Services provided include early childhood education, family support, community collaboration activities, health services, and parental involvement. The goal is to provide early education services to children and families so that children are ready to be successful when they enter school.

Part C

Child Development Watch is the statewide early intervention program for children ages birth through three. It is comprised of several state and community agencies, under the leadership of Delaware Health and Social Services’ Birth to Three Early Intervention System. Child Development Watch has two locations within the state, one in Wilmington which serves New Castle County and one in Milford serving Kent and Sussex counties. Delaware has chosen to implement Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) through Child Development Watch. IDEA is federal legislation that funds services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities.

The Program’s mission is to enhance the development of infants and toddlers with disabilities or developmental delays, and to enhance the capacity of their families to meet the needs of their young children. Child Development Watch provides evaluations and services to eligible families who have children with developmental delays and/or disabilities. If there is a question about a child’s development, the family physician or pediatrician should be consulted and then a referral to Child Development Watch should be made. Child Development Watch will provide a multidisciplinary evaluation to determine the child’s level of development, at no cost to the families. If the evaluation indicates that the child is eligible, the families have the option to participate in the program or to be referred elsewhere. If a family chooses to participate in the program, there are a variety of services available to the child and family based on their needs. The services are provided by community and state agencies.

Dispute (or) Conflict Resolution:

The parties to this agreement agree to resolve disputes within their own systems in accordance with federal regulations and internal agency procedures. In the event that misunderstandings, differences of opinion, or disputes occur about policies and procedures necessary to accomplish the provisions of this agreement, the parties to this agreement agree to attempt resolution through discussion. The parties encourage their local counterparts to resolve disputes through open discussion. The parties to this agreement agree to provide assistance to localities in resolving disagreements, if necessary.

Review of the Agreement:

This agreement will be jointly reviewed and revised by the Administration for Children and Families, Head Start Bureau – Region III and the Migrant Head Start Branch; the Delaware Department of Education; and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services as laws and regulations are amended that significantly impact this agreement or when any party requests a formal change. The Region III Disabilities Services Quality Improvement Center (DSQIC) and/or Delaware Head Start Collaboration Project will convene a biennial meeting of all agency representatives for the purpose of reviewing the agreement and recommending any needed revisions.

Term of the Agreement:

Each agency by the signature below of its authorized representative, hereby acknowledges understanding of this agreement and agrees to be bound by its terms. This agreement will remain binding on all successors in interest of the signatories of this agreement and the agencies they represent. The term of this agreement shall begin on the date of signatures and continue for five (5) years.

Authorized representatives of the parties to the agreement:

___________________________________________ Douglas Klafehn, Acting Associate Commissioner Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Representing the Migrant Head Start Branch		________________________ Date
___________________________________________ David Lett, Regional Administrator Region III Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families		________________________ Date
___________________________________________ Valerie Woodruff, Secretary Department of Education		________________________ Date
___________________________________________ Gregg C. Sylvester, MD, Secretary Department of Health and Social Services		________________________ Date
___________________________________________ Jeff Benatti, President Delaware Head Start Association		________________________ Date