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Washington's Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program Study

Enrollment of Washington Children with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs in Washington State Public Programs on December 1, 1995

State agencies, families, and local communities share a common vision for developing a system of coordinated, comprehensive, family-centered and culturally relevant early intervention services for infants and toddlers with delaying or disabling conditions. These children and their families are eligible to receive an array of publicly funded early intervention services although all may not seek enrollment in state programs.

This report presents information on infants and toddlers, under the age of three, with delaying or disabling conditions enrolled as of December 1, l995 in Washington State public services provided by child development programs, schools, neurodevelopmental centers, local health jurisdictions and Family Resources Coordinators. A child was defined as enrolled if the child 1) was determined to be eligible for services and/or 2) had an individualized service plan.

Summary of Findings

• In Washington State, 4,197 infants and toddlers under three years of age were found to be enrolled in public early intervention services for delaying or disabling conditions as of December 1, l995.

• The rate of enrollment in services in Washington (1.8%) was somewhat lower than the rate found in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for children with limitations in some daily activity (2.1%).

• The percentage of enrolled children in Washington who were Medicaid eligible with family incomes at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) (70%) was greater than the percentage of NHIS children with reported limitations who are at or below 200% of the FPL (61%).

• Analysis of enrollment rates by race/ethnicity shows that White children (1.7%) were enrolled at a slightly lower rate than that for all children in Washington (1.8%). Asian/Pacific Islander children (1.0%) had a substantially lower enrollment rate. African American (2.3%), Hispanic (2.0%) and Native American (3.6%) children were enrolled in early intervention programs at higher rates than all Washington children (1.8%).

• The enrollment rate for children of mothers with no prenatal care (5.4%) was over three times higher than that for children of mothers who received prenatal care in the first trimester (1.6%).

• Characteristics of infants at birth that were associated with high enrollment rates include low birthweight (8.1%), preterm birth (4.6%), and Apgar score less than 8 (8.4%). Male children had a higher enrollment rate than female children (2.0% versus 1.5%).

• Children of mothers with diagnosed substance abuse had an enrollment rate over three times that for all othr Medicaid children in Washington (7.4% versus 2.4%).

Modified: Thursday November 17 2005

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