Access to Early Intervention Services in New York State

Abstract

The results of a study of the availability of and access to early intervention services in twelve counties in upstate New York are presented here. Factor analyses of the availability of these services identified three groups: entry, direction, and specialized therapeutic services. While early intervention services were found to be broadly available, specialized services were substantially less available than those that were largely concerned with screening, advocating, funding, transporting, and similar activities instrumental to linking the child and family to direct therapeutic interventions. Analyses of the sources of referral and waiting times for a sample of children showed that pediatricians were the largest source of referrals to services, and referrals from this group had the shortest waiting times. Specific direction and coordination services that had been established in the locales had the lowest percentage of referrals and the longest waiting times. The implications of the study for public policymaking are shown to be important in two respects. The first concerns the relative efforts to provide early intervention services which focus more on instrumental activities than therapeutic interventions. The second is whether mechanisms designed to enhance the linkage of children to services actually achieve the desired results. The results of this study raise questions in both regards.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Adams, G.A. (1982). Referral advice given by physicians. Mental Retardation, 20, 16-20.

Beatrice, D.F. (1981). Case management: A policy option for long term care. In J. J. Callahan & S. S. Wallach (Eds.). Reforming the long term care system. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.

Bird, W. , Castellani, P.J. , & Nemeth, C. (1988). The preschool puzzle: A study of early intervention programs and services. Albany, NY: New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities .

Castellani, P.J. (1987). The political economy of developmental disabilities . Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing Co.

Commission on Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled (New York State) (1984). Promoting equity in the family of New York: A review of outpatient services for developmentally disabled people. Albany, NY: Author.

Davidson, P.W. , Reif, M.E. , Shapiro, D. , Griffith, B.F. , Shapiro, P.F. , & Crocker, A.C. (1984). Direction services: A model facilitating secondary prevention of developmental handicapping conditions. Mental Retardation, 22, 21-27.

DeWeerd, J. (1981). Early education services for children with handicaps- Where have we been, where are we now, and where are we going? Journal of the Division for Early Childhood, 2, 15-24.

Downey, N.A. , Castellani, P.J. , & Tausig, M.B. (1985). The provision of information and referral services in the community. Mental Retardation, 23, 21-25.

Dunst, C.J. (1985). Overview of the efficacy of early intervention programs: Methodological and conceptual considerations. In L. Brickman & D. Weatherford (Eds.). Evaluating early intervention programs for severely handicapped children and their families. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.

10.

Gargan, J.J. & Shanahan, J.L. (1984). Model I & R systems in the United States: Public policy issues in capacity building. In R. W. Levinson & K. S. Hayes (Eds.). Accessing human services: International perspectives. (pp. 141-170). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.

11.

Hill, B.K. & Bruininks, R.H. (1984). Maladaptive behavior of mentally retarded individuals in residential facilities. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 88, 380-387.

12.

Lynch, E.C. & Staloch, N.H. (1988). Parental perceptions of physicians' communication in the informing process. Mental Retardation, 26, 77-81.

13.

MacDonald, A.C. , Carson, K.L. , Palmer, D.J. , & Slay, T. (1982). Physicians' diagnostic information to parents of handicapped neonates. Mental Retardation, 20, 12-14.

14.

New York State Legislative Commission on Expenditure Review (1984). Family court orders for handicapped children. Albany, NY: Author.

15.

Tjossem, T. (1971). Early intervention: Issues and approaches. In T. Tjossem (Ed.). Intervention strategies for high risk and handicapped children. Baltimore , MD: University Park Press.

16.

Suelzle, M. & Keenan, V. (1981). Changes in family support networks over the life cycle of mentally retarded persons. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 86, 267-274.