Parent Contact update

October 2023

Caregiver Feedback in EI

The MA Early Intervention system uses a service delivery philosophy called Parents Interacting with Infants (or PIWI). PIWI works to build your skills as a parent/caregiver by supporting your confidence and competence and building on mutual enjoyment with your child. The focus of this philosophy is to support healthy and positive parent/caregiver and child relationships.

The role of the EI Specialist is to work with you as a partner to address your concerns and priorities for your child. The EI Specialists feedback helps your learning as a caregiver. It supports your competence and confidence, building your capacity as a caregiver. With feedback from your EI Specialist, you become more aware of your own and your child’s abilities and needs. It can also help with ideas for positive and enjoyable experiences with your child at home and in the community.

Resources & Opportunities

Understanding

Public Benefits

It can feel confusing and overwhelming trying to navigate Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and other public benefits. Lisa Sheehy, who is a public benefits specialist from the Department of Public Health, will join us to help simplify the process and share information about benefits that may be available to your family and how to access them.

Together, we will learn about different programs from the Division for Children and Youth with Special Health Needs to support young children and families, and how to find more information and support with them- including the Community Support Line, Care Coordination, the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund, the Hearing Aid Program for Infants and Children, and Pediatric Palliative Care.

This training will be held virtually on Friday, October 13th, from 1:00-3:00 pm. Advance registration here is required using the button below.

Family Rights in EI Understanding Due Process

Did you know that parents have rights if they have concerns or complaints about their Early Intervention services? If you have a question, concern or a complaint about your child’s EI services, would you know who to call or what your rights and options are? The Division of Early Intervention will present a training for parents about your rights and options including working with your EI team when you have concerns, how to file for a mediation or a due process hearing.

The training will provide an overview of the timelines, process and outcomes and is part of a series of workshop to support parents to know their rights. Register here for the next free virtual training on November 3rd from 1-3 pm.

Understanding IEP's and 504 Plans

If you are the parent or caregiver of a child looking at transitioning from EI, you are likely thinking about school. Exceptional Lives has a great guide explaining the differences between Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 Plans- both of which are plans that are specific to your child and describe ways to help them learn in school.

Exceptional Lives has all kinds of great information for families to help them prepare and plan. Exceptional Lives is a not-for-profit that encourages and guides families and providers caring for children with disabilities by offering information, resources, skill-building tools, and connections to other caregivers. They support family resiliency through clear, compassionate guidance grounded in their own personal experiences.

Autism Waiver Program

The Children’s Autism Waiver Program (AWP) at the Autism Division of the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) serves children, from birth through age 9, who have an autism spectrum disorder and who meet the eligibility criteria.

The Children’s Autism Waiver Program allows children to receive Expanded Habilitation, Education which are in-home services and supports such as Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Floor Time, and Relationship Development Intervention (RDI), for a total of up to 3 years. At the conclusion of the 3 years of the intensive in-home services, a child may access ongoing Supplemental Services (for example: respite and goods and services, etc.) that meet the child’s needs and help with the transition out of the intensive portion of the Autism Waiver Program—until the child’s 10th birthday.

For more information on the Autism Waiver Program, including the application, click here.

MassHealth is renewing all members' health coverage to ensure they qualify for their current benefits. Visit www.mass.gov/masshealthrenew and get redetermined!