Enrollment of Children with Special Education Needs
Children have already been determined eligible for infant/toddler (part c) services. Parents fill out enrollment forms for St. Ben's and apply for special purpose funding through the state welfare system.

Development of the IEP of IFSP
The Family Service Coordinator (through infant/toddler services), the parents, the support staff and the classroom teacher from St. Ben's meet to develop outcomes based on the evaluation results and family concerns.

Special Education Services at St. Ben's
Day care staff and special education staff meet regularly to plan, share observations and divide up roles and tasks. The ECSE teacher and the paraeducator provide special instruction two mornings a week. The occupational therapist and speech therapist also attend. The physical therapist comes as needed. A paraeducator is in the classroom daily along with the regular child care staff. Related services are provided within the context of the classroom. Pull-out services are used only when necessary usually for physical therapy.

Individual Performance Evaluation
The HELP is used to monitor a child's progress on IFSP goals and objectives. The ECSE teacher and the paraeducator collect data for this. In team meetings observations and professional judgment is used. Carry over of skills to the home environment is assessed during regular review meetings with the parents.

Family Involvement in the Program
Families are encouraged to visit the classroom and participate. There is an open house for all parents. Parents come in for IFSP meetings. St. Ben's sponsors parent activities that involve performances by the children. Parents are invited to training held in the evenings or on Saturdays. Classroom staff send families notes on progress and suggestions for carryover at home.

Schedules
Infant/toddler staff submit weekly schedules. meetings are kept track of on a calendar at St. Ben's. Minutes of meetings are recorded. Each classroom displays a daily schedule and lessons plans.

Child Specific Accommodations
At the IFSP meetings and team meetings accommodations are discussed and a plan for implementation developed. The ECSE staff ultimately are the advocates for the special needs child.

Program Funding
The program is funded by special purpose funds (through state child welfare program), Part H and C funds, state categorical aid and by Medicaid.

Transportation for Children
The school district provides bus transportation to the program and St. Ben's provides bus transportation home in the afternoon. However, some parents do their own transportation of their children.

Inservice Training
The Infant/Toddler services and the Local Interagency Coordinating Council sponsor a county wide conference on "Making Early Childhood Connections". St. Ben's and partners sponsor trainings throughout the year. All staff including the ECSE staff are invited. Some training for specific child needs are done on site with consultants.

Peer Interactions
All children are included in all activities. Children are encouraged to interact with each other and staff. At this age however, we expect recognition, but not friendship or interactive play--mostly parallel play.