Trending
STEUBENVILLE -- The early intervention program at Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities has yielded positive reviews in its abilities to serve children ages birth through 3.
Program Supervisor Neysa Rogers said state EI consultant Lindsey Jay paid a visit in September and spent time with team members to view them in action.
The EI program serves 83 children, with 59 on individual family service plans while officials are coordinating services for 24 kids across the county. About 15 employees, including contracted and staff evaluators, provide a variety of services, including special instruction by developmental specialists, occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy, while the state has offered consultations for vision, audiology and mental health services.
Eleven full-time and contracted staff members are now certified to assess children for a potential autism diagnosis after completing training last year through the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence of Columbus. That allows families to seek testing closer to home or be placed on a waiting list for up to six months to obtain the screenings.
Children are generally referred by a doctor or therapist, then staff members meet with families at the Jeffco Center in Steubenville for the observation or test since that location provides a quiet environment free of distractions for the child. Typical symptoms for autism include sensory issues, non-verbalization or not socializing and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule test is administered to obtain a diagnosis. The child is scored based upon specific criteria observed for his or her age, and after the observation is complete, a physician must formally sign-off on the recommendation. Rogers said the test is a very specific evaluation and results are accurate and reliable. To date, 17 ADOS tests have been completed, with 14 referred to a physician for diagnosis and another being re-tested.
Rogers said it was the first in-person visit since the pandemic, and Jay met with officials and families, witnessing the services firsthand.
"They are going back to pre-COVID initiatives and the state consultants are visiting every county," Rogers said. "We had been doing Zoom meetings. Jay wanted to meet with everyone and we talked about our technical assistance plan."
Jay attended an individual family service plan session and a developmental specialist's home visit to learn how representatives worked with the children, plus she met with JCBDD Superintendent Michael Zinno, SSA Supervisor Lynette Ekey and Rogers to discuss strategic planning initiatives for the future. In the end, the EI program gained high marks.
"She gave us high-quality outcomes training and we received rave reviews," Rogers noted. "I have a strong team and we are meeting the high-quality outcomes. Jay praised our home visits and said the strategies and outcomes were met with the families."
Jay, who traveled from Cincinnati, covers about 20 counties. Rogers was pleased to see the in-person reviews occur, saying it gives the officials a closer look at the county programs' efforts.
"Hopefully we return to annual visits," she said. "She was so supportive of the work that we do here. There's always room for improvement and we're working toward best practices, and Lindsey Jay supports it."
She continued that EI can now apply for supplemental service coordination grant funding for evaluation assessments.
The JCBDD has offset much of the costs to the tune of $800,000, which Rogers said has greatly aided services.
"The county board has generously spent levy funds to supplement our assessment fund. With the board providing all of the funding, services can be provided for kids age birth to 3. We received a $176,000 service coordination grant in July and are now allowed to pursue a supplemental grant for the work we are doing.," Rogers said.
Parents seeking more information about EI services may contact Rogers at (740) 264-5812, extension 1126, or e-mail her at nrogers@jcbdd.com.