EXECUTIVE ORDER
94-22

WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States has authorized an early intervention program under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families based upon the finding that such a program is needed to:

  1. Enhance the development of infants and toddlers with disabilities and minimize their potential for delay;
  2. Reduce the educational costs by minimizing the need for special education when they reach school age;
  3. Enhance the capacity of families to meet the special needs of their infants and toddlers with disabilities; and
  4. Minimize institutionalization and maximize the potential of individuals with disabilities for independent living.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mel Carnahan, Governor of the State of Missouri, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Missouri, do hereby declare and direct that it is the policy of the State of Missouri, through the designated lead agency of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and in cooperation with the Department of Health, Department of Mental Health, Department of Social Services, and Department of Insurance, to develop and fully implement a statewide system of coordinated, comprehensive, multi-disciplinary, interagency programs that will provide appropriate early intervention services to all eligible infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.

At a minimum, the statewide system will include the following components:

  1. Approximate and adequate program implementation criteria;
  2. A multi-disciplinary evaluation of each potentially eligible infant and toddler;
  3. An individualized family service plan including service coordination for each eligible infant and toddler;
  4. A comprehensive child find system;
  5. A public awareness program focusing on early identification;
  6. A central directory which includes early intervention services, resources, and experts available in Missouri;
  7. A single line of responsibility through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for:
    • the general administration, supervision, and monitoring of programs and activities;
    • the identification and coordination of all available federal, state, local, and private resources;
    • the assignment of financial responsibility to the appropriate agency;
    • the development of procedures to ensure services are provided in a timely manner;
    • the resolution of intra- and interagency disputes; and
    • formal interagency agreements that define the financial responsibility of each agency for paying for early intervention services and procedures for resolving disputes;
  8. A policy pertaining to the contracting or making of other arrangements with services providers to provide early intervention services;
  9. A procedure for securing timely reimbursement of funds;
  10. Procedural safeguards related to:
    • timely resolution of complaints by parents;
    • confidentiality of information;
    • examination of records by parents;
    • protection of the rights of children whose parents are unknown;
    • written prior notice in parent's native language regarding changes in services; and
    • continuation of services;
  11. Policies and procedures relating to the establishment and maintenance of standards to ensure that program personnel are appropriately and adequately prepared and trained; and
  12. A system for compiling data as required by the United States Secretary of Education.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, in the City of Jefferson, on this 8th day of July, 1994.

[Mel Carnahan’s signature]
GOVERNOR

ATTEST:

[Judith K. Moriarty’s signature]
SECRETARY OF STATE

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