February 11th, 2025 IICEI Workforce Workgroup - Agenda and Meeting Reports

IICEI Workforce Workgroup

  • February 11th, 2025
  • 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
  • Join Via Zoom
  • Meeting ID: 836 1690 5785
  • Password: 003786
  • One Tap Mobile: +13126266799,83616905785# US (Chicago)

Agenda

  1. Welcome
  2. Ground Rules and Expectations
    1. Review of norms
    2. Approval of minutes
  3. Review of NIEER report on EI/ECSE workforce
  4. Next Steps
  5. Public Comment

Attendees

Participant Name Attended
Amanda Albright Yes
Talibah Moore No
Autumn Bruere Yes
Antonio Borjas Yes
Susan Connor Yes
Tracy Cooper Yes
Jen Crick Yes
Amy Betz for Rob Derry Yes
Chelsea Guillen Yes
Mindy Ely Yes
Kesha Harris Yes
Katie Jacobs Yes
Zareen Kamal Yes
Jenny Masterson Yes
Rachel Mika Yes
Carol Muhammad Yes
Stephanie O'Donnell Yes
Monica Patrick Yes
Makenzie Pettit Yes
Amy Santos No
Delreen Schmidt-Lenz Yes
Lisa Seymour Yes
Ellen Shwatal Yes
Ashley Stoffel Yes
Nicole Van Hise Yes

Minutes

I. Welcome

* Welcome to new member Mindy Ely who will be replacing Michelle Clyne.

II. Ground Rules and Expectations

  • Review of norms
  • Approval of minutes: Motion to approve Antonio Borjas, second Dr. Tracy Cooper. No one opposed.

III. Review of NIEER report on EI/ECSE workforce

  • Chelsea mentioned that on a webinar about this report, they mentioned that bots had interfered with the survey data. She cautioned that there are some numbers that may not be accurate as they deviate significantly from other data. One example could be related to age as the upper end was 82 years old. Some noted that this could represent EI providers who are retired from other jobs.
  • Group reviewed information on belonging to a professional organization. Members were wondering if this was answered via a drop-down menu where limited options were presented. Questions about low membership related to not joining a professional organization due to the associated fees and not indicating they were a member if they work for an agency which is a member when they don't have an individual membership. There is variation around therapists' membership with national versus state professional organizations. Some disciplines require membership while others do not.
  • In regard to professional development: people cite not enough time and no money for continued degree.
  • Discussion around use of IFSP development time for consultation with team members. Many feel that it is happening but may not be billed because it's a pain. Also felt that the wording of the question may have lead to varied interpretations. They may not consider planning time to be IFSP development. They may consider planning time to be more treatment planning, prepping materials/resources, etc, which doesn't fall under IFSP time. Other challenges with using IFSP development time related to how long the discussion took and bundling for billing.

The group then discussed how the report compared to/contrasted with their experiences?

  • Within the PT field, the lack of diversity stems from the required education portion. There is recognition that there is lack of diversity in the field. Need mechanisms for tuition support and stronger recruitment from historically black colleges and universities and minority serving institutions.
  • Mentorship could be an option for bringing in more diversity and a younger population of providers. Changes will have to be made in order to make that happen. Lack of tuition reimbursement, benefits, and retirement make it hard to attract people who could work in other settings that offer these.
  • Hard to recruit EI Families to work in the system, particularly if they didn't receive services or were waitlisted. Would need to restore trust in communities for this to be successful.
  • Many service coordinators lack home visiting training. Many come from case management where the focus is on the trade and not how to work within someone's home. It takes understanding of situational awareness, hotline calls, safety concern, etc to work within a home and they sometimes need support in those areas.
  • Circling back to the lack of diversity issue, higher education isn't to consider race or ethnicity in admissions. They also can't admit students to programs if they don't apply. We need more outreach to HS and even middle school. How can those students learn about EI, OT, PT, speech, etc.? We also need EI agencies/providers to take fieldwork/clinical students. For example, OT students are much more likely (and better prepared) to work in EI if they had a fieldwork in EI.

Members also discussed what piqued their curiosity -

  • Surprised that there was a lack of information about payment challenges in the report.
  • Given the current state and known budget shortfall, would love to see us focus on quality of life things we can have control over, for example, being paid on time, reducing authorization issues with billing, and CBO facilitating payments.
  • Finding ways to help passionate providers that may not require money.
  • Expanding the system to assist new providers while still helping those within the field.

Where can EI focus immediately?

  • What about expanding the missed visit window to 2 or more weeks instead of only 1? That would be a small change and help providers have less of a hit for canceled session if they can realistically offer makeups.
  • Improve the frequency of payment and reduce CBO/Insurance issues. If EI companies received all of their funds in a timely manner then they may have more time and money to provide other benefits, like insurance, at a lower cost.
  • Up to date data and billing systems

Given challenges, what keeps people coming?

  • People love EI. The people that are in it, are in it.
  • Love being able to make a difference.
  • Enjoy working with children and Families
  • We realize the importance on EI!! And that it works!
  • The flexibility of work schedule
  • Some of the pros you can't find in another job, so you just power through the negatives.
  • Serving and connecting with families directly and the purpose of the program is aligned with my values

What do you enjoy about your work?

  • The tasks that help amplify the voices of the families in the areas served. Enjoy watching the development of professionals.
  • I also love being the first provider to support a family through what is sometimes a lifelong journey with a child with a disability. It can be such a vulnerable time for a family, and we can do so much for them.
  • I actually learn something new all the time. Every family is different and interesting.
  • All of the things. But, the EI work being done has positively impacted their own Family and shows them that their work really matters. The work they do with all children and families manifests in Provider's own children.

Other comments included:

  • Given how important EI is, it can be discouraging to feel like we constantly are in a "fight" for EI and funding. I would love for us to be able to make actionable changes within the program so that every little thing isn't such a mountain to climb.
  • It is very hard to hang on to the hope that change is coming when we are constantly fighting to be validated.
  • I feel like much of the recruitment and retention strategies go back to funding like a mentorship program or outreach program.

IV. Next Steps

  • Focus on recruitment and retention
  • Immediate things that can make an impact to start to remove some of the barriers

V. Public Comment

* No public comment

Next meeting: March 11th, 2025 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm