Research & Data > Research Reports > 7 > 79 > g

Introduction | Download  | Related information

Washington's Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program Study

December 1, 1999

Enrollment of Washington Children with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs in Washington State Public Programs

An estimated 2.5% of children under the age of three in the state of Washington have developmental delays or disabilities. Infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families are eligible to receive an array of public early intervention services, although all those eligible may not seek enrollment in state programs. State agencies, families, and local communities share a common vision for a service system of coordinated, comprehensive, family-centered and culturally relevant early intervention services for eligible children and their families.

This report presents information on infants and toddlers, ages birth to three, who were enrolled in Washington State public services for children with developmental delays or disabilities on December 1, 1999. A child was defined as enrolled if the child 1) was determined to be eligible for services, 2) was receiving services, and/or 3) had a completed service plan.

Eligibility criteria differ between agencies. Infants and toddlers with special health care needs enrolled in early intervention services may not have developmental delays or disabilities that meet eligibility criteria for the Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program. These children may be at risk of delays and are included in this report to serve as a reference for possible future funding and services, and to portray a more complete picture of the population of children receiving public early intervention services in Washington State.

Summary of Findings: Expanded Characteristics of Enrolled Children

• In Washington State, 2,781 infants and toddlers under three years of age (1.2% of the estimated population of children under three) and their families were receiving services with completed Individualized Family Service Plans on December 1, 1999. This number has grown from 113 children reported on December 1, 1993.

• A total of 5,557 infants and toddlers under three years of age were found to be enrolled in public early intervention services for developmental delays or disabilities as of December 1, 1999. Over the last six years the number of children served has increased by 37% from 4,055 to 5,557, and the proportion of children enrolled has risen from 1.6% to 2.3%.

• The 1999 rate of enrollment in services in Washington (2.3%) was similar to the rate found in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for children with limitations in some daily activity (2.3%).

• The enrollment rate (3.4%) for Medicaid-eligible children, with family incomes up to 200% of the FPL, was greater than that for non-Medicaid children (1.4%). The proportion of enrolled children who were Medicaid-eligible (69%) was significantly greater than that for all children in Washington (47%). These patterns are similar among children in the National Health Interview Survey with reported limitations.

• The enrollment rate for children of mothers with no prenatal care (4.7%) was over two times higher than that for children of mothers who received first trimester prenatal care (2.1%).

• Characteristics of infants at birth that were associated with high enrollment rates include low birthweight (10.6%), preterm birth (5.9%), and Apgar score less than 8 (9.6%). Male children had a higher enrollment rate than female children (2.7% versus 2.0%).

• Children of mothers with diagnosed substance abuse had an enrollment rate of more than three times that for all other Medicaid children in Washington (9.5% versus 3.0%).

Modified: Thursday November 17 2005

For more ways to get in touch with the Department of Social and Health Services, go to the DSHS Contact Information Web page. Technical Site Comments: DSHS Webmaster. Copyright 2004 Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.