§ 4226.24. Comprehensive child find system.
(a) The county MH/MR program shall develop a child find system that will ensure that:
(1) All at-risk children and infants and toddlers with disabilities in the geographical area of the county MH/MR program are identified, located and evaluated.
(2) An effective method is developed and implemented to determine which at-risk children and infants and toddlers with disabilities are receiving needed tracking or early intervention services, and which are not receiving those services.
(b) The county MH/MR program, with the assistance of the local interagency coordinating council, shall coordinate the child find system with all other major efforts to locate and identify at-risk children and infants and toddlers with disabilities, which include the following:
(1) The local preschool program authorized under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (20 U.S.C.A. § § 1411—1419).
(2) Maternal and Child Health Programs authorized under Title V of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.A. § § 701—709).
(3) The Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) Program under Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.A. § § 1396—1396v).
(4) Programs authorized under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (42 U.S.C.A. § § 15001—15083).
(5) Head Start Programs authorized under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.A. § § 9831—9852).
(6) The Supplemental Security Income Program under Title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.A. § § 1381—1383f).
(c) The county MH/MR program, with the assistance of the local interagency coordinating council, shall take steps to ensure that:
(1) There is not unnecessary duplication of effort by the various agencies involved in the local child find system.
(2) It coordinates and makes use of resources available through the local public agencies to implement the child find system in an effective manner.
(d) The child find system shall include procedures for use by primary referral sources for referring a child to the county MH/MR program for the following:
(1) Evaluation and assessment, in accordance with § § 4226.61 and 4226.62 (relating to MDE; and nondiscriminatory procedures).
(2) As appropriate, the provision of services, in accordance with § 4226.72(a) or § 4226.76 (relating to procedures for IFSP development, review and evaluation; and provision of services before MDE is completed).
(e) The procedures required in subsection (a)(1) shall:
(1) Provide for an effective method of making referrals by primary referral sources.
(2) Ensure that referrals are made no more than 2 working days after a child has been identified, unless otherwise permitted or mandated by Federal law.
(f) The term ‘‘primary referral sources’’ in subsection (d) includes the following:
(1) Hospitals, including prenatal and postnatal care facilities.
(2) Physicians.
(3) Parents.
(4) Day care programs.
(5) Local educational agencies.
(6) Public health facilities.
(7) Other social service agencies.
(8) Other health care providers.
(g) Timelines to act on referrals are as follows:
(1) Once the county MH/MR program receives a referral, it shall appoint a service coordinator as soon as possible.
(2) Within 45 days after it receives a referral, the county MH/MR program shall do one of the following:
(i) Complete the evaluation activities in § 4226.61 and hold an IFSP meeting, in accordance with § 4226.72.
(ii) Complete the evaluation activities in § 4226.61 and develop a plan for further assessment and tracking.
Cross References This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 4226.61 (relating to MDE); and 55 Pa. Code § 4226.72 (relating to procedures for IFSP development, review and evaluation).
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