Identifying the Need

Indiana’s First Steps, Early Intervention program has undergone many changes in the past several years. The MR/DD Commission, a legislative study commission with responsibility for oversight of the FS EI system called for a programmatic audit of First Steps. The goal of the audit is to analyze issues of access, quality, and timeliness of services and to review the impact of policy decisions on families and services over the last several years of change.

The ARC of Indiana sponsored the development of a stakeholder committee who met 3/07 at the Collaborative Work Lab located at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (IIDC) in order to identify recommendations for a first steps evaluation. The resulting recommendations from the stakeholder group evolved into the development of six evaluation questions that will guide the focus of the audit. The audit will be completed through the analysis of data, surveys and focus groups.

The Early Childhood Center at Indiana Institute on Disability and Community (ECC/IIDC), Indiana University is contracting with the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, Family and Social Services Administration to conduct an independent audit/evaluation of the Indiana First Steps Early Intervention System. Those six evaluation questions will guide the evaluation process. Following the completion of the evaluation in spring 2008, an Independent Review Panel will then evaluate the process, findings and recommendations made by ECC/IIDC.

Check back often for updates and please check out the documents including draft survey questions, data sources, timelines etc. It is important to gain the input of the community; including providers, consumers and leaders in this evaluation of the FS EI system. Please feel free to offer your own comments and ideas to this process.