Iowa Early ACCESS
Helping Children Exposed to Illicit Drugs, and Their Families

Kelly Ann Schulte, Community Health Consultant
Bureau of Family Health, Iowa Department of Public Health

Iowa’s Early ACCESS program works with the family to identify, coordinate, and provide services to promote their child’s optimal growth and development.

To qualify for Early ACCESS services, the child must be younger than three years old and:

• Demonstrate a 25% delay in one or more areas of growth and development, or

• Have a condition or disability known to have a high probability of later delays unless early intervention services are provided. Perinatal drug exposure is one of these qualifying conditions. Any child who has known perinatal drug exposure automatically qualifies for the services of Early ACCESS.

Help for children older than 3 years
Children older than 3 years are eligible for services if they have a significant developmental delay that specifically interferes with learning in an educational setting.

Early ACCESS services
Services provided by Early ACCESS include:

• Health services, including medical evaluation to determine eligibility
• Assistive technology
• Audiology
• Family training and counseling
• Nutrition
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Psychology
• Social work
• Special instruction
• Speech language therapy
• Vision care

Early referral is critical
As soon as a child is identified as eligible for services, it is important to refer him or her to Early ACCESS. Each child eligible for Early ACCESS will be assigned a service coordinator. The child and family are matched with a coordinator whose expertise most closely relates to the child’s needs. Infants and toddlers exposed to drugs are more likely to have a service coordinator from either Child Health Specialty Clinics (CHSC) or their local AEA.

The Individualized Service Plan (IFSP)
The Early ACCESS service coordinator facilitates the evaluation and treatment of the child. The coordinator works closely with the family to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).

Family priorities guide the selection of services provided as part of the IFSP. Working together, the family and service providers identify and address specific concerns related to the child's growth and development. Services may be provided in the home, and also in community settings with children of the same age who have no disabilities. Early ACCESS service coordination activities and evaluation and assessment services that are part of the IFSP are provided at no cost to the family.

Health concerns are monitored for their potential impact on a child’s development. Transportation assistance is provided as needed. Early ACCESS service coordination is provided by:

• Area Education Agencies (AEA)
• Child Health Specialty Clinics (CHSC)
• Child Health Title V Agencies

• Other community agencies as appropriate

Confidentiality
Two federal laws protect the confidentiality of Early ACCESS records:

• School records are protected under FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (see http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html for a summary).

• Health records are protected under HIPPA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Because Early ACCESS records are covered by FERPA, health care providers must obtain a signed release from the family in order to exchange information with Early ACCESS about children they refer to this program.

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