SUGGESTED STEP BY STEP ON-LINE ORIENTATION
Log on to: www.waisman.wisc.edu/birthto3/
The Birth to 3 Basics section includes links to information about key aspects of Wisconsin’s Birth to 3 Program, including an overview and specific sections on these topics: Evaluation and Assessment, IFSP, Service Coordination, and Natural Environments. The materials mentioned in this guide and any items developed for Birth to 3 workshops are posted in this section, including those from “Orientation to Best Practices in Birth to 3”
To begin this online orientation, click on Birth to 3 Basics and select Birth to 3 Overview. This section includes an overview of the program, a link to the full text of HFS 90, and an on-line version of the Families Are the Foundation Booklet along with other key information.
Spend time walking through the Orientation to Best Practices - Slide Show. Be sure to stop periodically to ask if the employee has any questions. (Suggested 20 –30 minutes.) As you pass the slide with the photo of Families Are the Foundation Booklet, indicate that you’ll take a closer look at that booklet, next.
The Families Are the Foundation Booklet is a key document in Wisconsin’s Birth to 3 Program. The booklet is given to all families of children referred to a Birth to 3 Program and includes information about the Birth to 3 processes and what families might expect to experience. Make sure new employees are familiar with all contents and allow time for review and questions. (Reserve 15 minutes for the review and questions. You will want to encourage your new employee to take time to read the booklet in its entirety at another time.)
At this point, you might want to pause to invite your new employee to read Joni’s Story - (HTML version) for discussion at a future meeting. We have found that the perspective presented in the story, helps new providers understand a family’s perspective about their early intervention experiences.
The Wisconsin Birth to 3 Guiding Principles - (HTML version) and Key Elements of Family-Centered Services page makes basic points about how Birth to 3 should work with families. Take time to review these points and answer questions. (Suggested 10-15 minutes.) This would be a good time to share your programs mission and philosophy statements to review how they reflect the principals included in these foundational Birth to 3 materials.
Birth to 3 Program processes are further explained on the Birth to 3 Flow Chart - (HTML version), demonstrating the various ways a child referred to Birth to 3 may enter the program. The list of Diagnosed Conditions - (HTML version), clarifies which path a child may take depending on the circumstances at the time a referral is made. Take time to explain what role this individual may play in the process. (Suggested 15-20 minutes.)
All employees should be encouraged to review Wisconsin Birth to 3 law - HFS 90 – either on-line or in hard copy. Ask new employees to review and ask questions. (Reserve 30 minutes for HFS 90 overview and related questions.) Note that links to specific sections of HFS 90 are available in other sections of Birth to 3 Basics (i.e., Links to the Evaluation and Assessment portions of HFS 90 are found in the Evaluation and Assessment section, and links to the IFSP portions are included under the IFSP section.)
Take some time to review all essential forms and policies related to Birth to 3 services. Many state forms are located on-line in the Birth to 3 Overview section under Additional Resources. (Suggested 15 minutes.)
Because the IFSP is the most important document in Birth to 3, we recommend that you spend time discussing the IFSP process and the documentation required for this process. Consider discussing A Walk Trough the IFSP Process - Slide Show found under Birth to 3 Basics – IFSP. (Suggested 20-30 minutes.)
The IFSP section also includes sample IFSP goals to help a new employee better understand his or her team contribution and how to write functional outcomes with families. Allow the employee to review sample goals located at IFSP – Additional Resources. (Suggested 20-30 minutes for discussion and questions.)
It is important that all Birth to 3 employees have a basic understanding of other state and community programs and services that work with and can be useful to Birth to 3 families. Provide a general overview of the items listed under the Financial Resources, Health Resources, Early Education & Care, Early Hearing Detection & Intervention sections of the site.
Make sure each employee has a contact list with phone numbers that include contacts for Birth to 3 RESource, State Birth to 3 Staff and WPDP. These contacts and other programs which may be helpful in finding resources or connections for families can be found under the Links section of the website.
You might also want to bookmark the Professional Development/Training section of the Birth to 3 Training and Technical Assistance website. This will help you and your new employees keep current on training opportunities offered by the Birth to 3 Program as well as other relevant trainings. This site includes links to Birth to 6 EVENTS, TNET, and the Waisman Center Community Training Calendar, which are sources for up-to-date information about early childhood professional development opportunities. New employees can also find information about the licensing, professional development, and continuing education requirements for their profession. (http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/birthto3/events.php)
If you have any questions about this on-line guide, please contact WPDP by calling Linda Tuchman - 608.263.6467 or e-mail:tuchman@waisman.wisc.edu or Lisa Pugh - 608.890.0144 or pugh@waisman.wisc.edu.
Your Regional RESource Facilitator may also help you discover ways to use this guide. Find RESource contact information here.