POLICY

  1. Child and Family Connections (CFC) offices will work collaboratively to ensure that instate transfers from one CFC to another CFC and out-of-state transfers from the Illinois' Early Intervention Services System to another state's Part C Early Intervention (EI) program are conducted in a manner which ensures minimal disruption to the child and family's services and/or supports.
  2. When a child exits the Early Intervention Services System, Child and Family Connections shall update and close the child's permanent and electronic record and shall maintain the child's CFC permanent record as a closed file.

PROCEDURE

In-State Transfers

  1. If a family makes the current Service Coordinator aware of an upcoming move, the Service Coordinator shall:
    1. Notify the family of how to contact the receiving (new) CFC;
    2. Obtain the parent's signature on the Consent for Release of Information form (pdf) allowing the transfer of a copy of the child's CFC permanent and electronic records to the new CFC. File the form in the child's CFC permanent record.
    3. Notify the new CFC of the child's name, Cornerstone Participant ID and CBO/EI number;
    4. Print the Cornerstone Service Coordinator case notes, Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), IFSP attachments and Participant Enrollment Information Report and file in the child's CFC permanent record;
    5. Route the child's CFC permanent record to the CFC manager for review and approval to transfer; and
    6. After approval, forward a copy of the child's CFC permanent record (including copies of the Cornerstone Service Coordinator case notes, IFSP, IFSP attachments and Participant Enrollment Information Report) to the new CFC manager and maintain the original CFC permanent record as a closed file. NOTE: DO NOT close the electronic record in Cornerstone. The record will be automatically inactivated when the new CFC requests the transfer in Cornerstone.
  2. If a family presents to a new CFC and the transferring (old) CFC was not able to obtain a signed Consent for Release of Information form (pdf), the new CFC must obtain the consent to allow the old CFC to release the child's EI record.
    1. Obtain the parent's signature on the Consent for Release of Information form (pdf) allowing the transfer of a copy of the child's CFC permanent and electronic records to the new CFC.
    2. Fax or send a copy of the signed Consent for Release of Information form (pdf) to the old CFC.
    3. Upon receipt of the signed Cornerstone Informed Consent form (pdf), the old CFC must complete steps 1.3 - 1.5 above within 5 calendar days of the receipt of the signed consent.
  3. Upon receipt of the child's CFC permanent record, the new CFC must obtain the parent's signature on the Cornerstone Informed Consent form (pdf), request the transfer of the case in Cornerstone and assign a new Service Coordinator. NOTE: The following screens transfer to the new CFC: Enrollment/Address, Birth Data Screen, EI Program Data Screen, EI Service Authorization Entry, EI Service Authorization Inquiry, Initial Referral Assessment, Pregnancy and Birth Information Assessment, Developmental Assessment, Participant All Kids/ Insurance Screen and Family Fee.
  4. The new Service Coordinator initiates contact with the family as soon as possible to arrange new providers for the services on the child's IFSP if the original providers are not able to continue serving the child and family in the new region.
    1. Adjust the end date on service authorizations that are no longer effective and generate new authorizations as needed for providers in the local area. NOTE: New authorizations will not be needed if the original providers are able to continue to service the child and family in the new CFC region.
    2. Review with the family any persons, in addition to the Early Intervention providers listed in the IFSP, they wish to receive a copy of the IFSP and add those names to the current (signed) Implementation and Distribution Authorization page of the IFSP.
    3. Print, copy and distribute the IFSP to the family, the Early Intervention providers listed in the IFSP and anyone else the family has consented to receive a copy. NOTE: Language on the IFSP document permits service provider changes without written consent. Therefore, it is not necessary to obtain written consent before implementing services with new providers as long as the service types, frequencies, durations and locations are maintained.

Out-of-State Transfers

  1. When notified by the family of an upcoming move to another state, obtain parent signature on the Consent for Release of Information form (pdf) allowing transfer of information to the Part C EI program in the new state that the child will be moving to.
  2. With appropriate consent, contact the EI program in the state the family is moving to and share/obtain information necessary to facilitate a smooth transition from the Illinois' EI Services System to the new state's Part C EI program.
  3. Give the family contact information for the Part C EI Program in the new state and make the family aware of any steps necessary for them to complete prior to the move to aid the transfer process.
  4. Notify all providers who have authorizations that the child/family will be moving and the tentative date that EI services will be terminated.
    1. Request any written information required to complete the case closure and transfer process such as results of any recent evaluations/assessments and/or discharge reports.
  5. If the parent agrees, coordinate an IFSP review meeting to review the results of any recent evaluations/assessments and/or discharge reports and to discuss and document progress toward IFSP functional outcomes and EI levels of development/child outcomes.
  6. Upon confirmation of the family's out of state move the Service Coordinator shall complete the following activities:
    1. Send a termination letter to the family documenting the reason Early Intervention services are being terminated;
    2. Notify the child's providers of authorization discontinuation and case closure;
    3. Document provider notification of authorization discontinuation and case closure in Cornerstone Service Coordination case notes;
    4. Edit the child's Cornerstone program status on the Program Information screen to indicate closure reason. NOTE: Do not complete case closure until this step is complete. In order to ensure accurate federal reporting data, it is very important to manually close all cases in Cornerstone in a timely manner and to document accurate termination reasons. Cases that are not manually terminated in Cornerstone will automatically terminate approximately 30 days after the child's third birthday and could negatively impact the CFC's performance contracting statistical data;
    5. Print a hard copy of Cornerstone Service Coordinator case notes and file in the child's CFC permanent record;
    6. Terminate Service Coordinator assignment on the Case Manager Assignment History screen;
    7. Close the hard copy and electronic case records. NOTE: Closing the electronic case record automatically adjusts all authorization end dates to one day before the case closure date (unless authorizations have been adjusted to end earlier). Be considerate of service providers and final service dates when closing electronic case records; and
    8. Transfer the information that the parent's have agreed to transfer to the new states Part C EI program.

Aging Out or Exiting Prior to Age Three

  1. When a child exits Early Intervention due to aging out or prior to reaching three years of age the Service Coordinator shall complete the following activities:
    1. Convene a meeting of the child's IFSP team no more than 120 days prior to the child's third birthday or prior to closing the child's case if the child is exiting prior to age three, to discuss and document progress toward IFSP functional outcomes and EI levels of development/child outcomes
    2. Send a termination letter to the family documenting the reason Early Intervention services are being terminated;
    3. If the child is exiting prior to age three, immediately notify providers of case closure and authorization discontinuation.
    4. Document provider notification of case closure and authorization discontinuation in Cornerstone case notes.
    5. Notify the LEA/School District if a transition referral has already been made. NOTE: If the notification is not made prior to closing the case, the Service Coordinator can still notify the LEA/School District up to the end date identified on the Consent for Release of Information form (pdf) to make transition referrals and to share information with the LEA/School District. After the end date identified on the form, either the Service Coordinator or the LEA/School District representative will have to obtain written consent from the family to allow release of information from the CFC to the LEA/School District.
    6. Document LEA/School District notification in Cornerstone case notes.
    7. Edit the child's Cornerstone program status on the Program Information screen to indicate closure reason. NOTE: Do not complete case closure until this step is complete. In order to ensure accurate federal reporting data, it is very important to manually close all cases in Cornerstone in a timely manner and to document accurate termination reasons. Cases that are not manually terminated in Cornerstone will automatically terminate approximately 30 days after the child's third birthday and could negatively impact the CFC's performance contracting statistical data.
    8. Print a hard copy of Cornerstone Service Coordinator case notes and file in the child's CFC permanent record;
    9. Terminate Service Coordinator assignment on the Case Manager Assignment History screen; and
    10. Close the hard copy and electronic case records. NOTE: Closing the electronic case record automatically adjusts all authorization end dates to one day before the case closure date (unless authorizations have been adjusted to end earlier). Be considerate of service providers and final service dates when closing electronic case records.