General Information
Early ACCESS is a partnership between families with young children, birth to age three, and providers from the Departments of Education, Public Health, Human Services, the Child Health Specialty Clinics. The purpose of this program is for families and staff to work together in identifying, coordinating and providing needed services and resources that will help the family assist their infant or toddler to grow and develop.
Services
The family and providers work together to identify and address specific family concerns and priorities as they relate to the child's overall growth and development. In addition, broader family needs and concerns can be addressed by locating other supportive/resources services in the local community for the family and/or child. All services to the child are provided in the child's natural environment including the home and other community settings where children of the same age without disabilities participate.
Services required to be provided to children and families include:
Age Requirements and Eligibility
An infant or toddler under the age of three (birth to age three) who,
Costs
There are no costs to families for service coordination activities; evaluation and assessment activities to determine eligibility or identify the concerns, priorities and resources of the family; development and reviews of the Individualized Family Service Plan.� The service coordinator works with the family to determine cost s and payment arrangements of other needed services.� Some services may have charges or sliding fee scales or may be provided at no cost to families.� Costs are determined by a�variety of factors that are individualized to each child and family.
Where to Apply
To connect to the Early ACCESS system in your area, families can contact
Iowa COMPASS,
Iowa's free statewide information and referral service for
people with disabilities, their families, their service providers
and other members of the community. Information specialists are
available via telephone and e-mail, Monday through Friday, 8:00
AM to 5:00 PM.
Call toll-free:
Voice 1-800-779-2001
TTY 1-877-686-0032
E-mail: iowa-compass@uiowa.edu