North Dakota Interagency Coordinating Council Minutes March 6 2003

ND Heritage Center Bismarck, North Dakota

Present: ReNae Bearking Bill Lardy Paula Burckhard Roxane Romanick Peggy Crane Linda Rorman Tammy Gallup-Millner Angel Spottedhorse Ramona Gunderson (by phone) Shawn Stettner Jeanette Kolberg

Absent: Bernard Hogarth Pam Vetter Gene Hysjulien

Staff Present: Deb Balsdon Connie Haag

Chairperson Peggy Crane called the meeting to order at 1:30 PM. Introductions were made. A quorum was present.

Topic: December 4-5, 2002 Meeting Minutes
Action: The minutes were approved as distributed.

Topic: Family To Family Network
Continuation Proposal
Discussion:Stella Hegg distributed copies of the new Family To Family Network brochure and reviewed the project Continuation Proposal with the Council. The Family To Family Network connects families with children with developmental disabilities from zero through age two with other families who have experienced the same circumstances. The Family To Family Network also provides training for the veteran families. The proposal for 2003/2004 is based on a fee for service.
Action: A motion was made by Bill Lardy and seconded by Angel Spottedhorse to recommend that the North Dakota Department of Human Services continue to financially support the Family To Family Network. Motion carried.

Topic: Parents As Trainers Project
Continuation Proposal
Discussion: Peg Mohr presented and discussed with the Council the project Continuation Proposal for the Parents as Trainers project. The proposal focuses on continuation of the pre-service component that involves supporting parents as co-instructors in early intervention courses at Universities across the state. The proposal also addresses development of 3 in-service curriculums that will be delivery through distance learning techniques.
Action: A motion was made by Linda Rorman and seconded by Jeanette Kolberg to recommend that the North Dakota Department of Human Services continue to financially support for the Parents as Trainers project. Motion carried.

Topic: Training Needs
Discussion: Copies of a Training Needs Assessment were distributed. Council members were asked to identify priority training needs for the North Dakota Interagency Coordinating Council and how that training should be delivered. Assessments have also been sent to the Regional Interagency Coordinating Committees (RICCs).
Action: The completed assessments are to be returned to Deb Balsdon.

Topic: Membership
Discussion: Three vacancies need to be filled on the Council. Tuval Foguel and Janet Schauer have resigned, and Jane Gunter was not re-elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives. Jeanette Kolberg’s and Pam Vetter’s terms are up for reappointment this year.
Action: Deb Balsdon will contact RICCs for their recommendations.

Topic: Annual Performance Report
Deb Balsdon distributed copies of the Part C Annual Performance Report instructions for FY 2001 and said the completed report is due July 1. Reporting requirements are very different from past years and include a financial section that may be difficult to accurately complete.
Action: A draft Annual Performance Report will be mailed to Council members a few weeks before the next quarterly meeting.

Topic: Early Intervention Data
Discussion: The Council reviewed data regarding the percentage of infants and toddlers served in North Dakota. Data was presented on a county, regional and statewide basis. The data was also split be age under 1 years of age and under 3 years of age. The national goal is to serve 1% of the total population less than 1 year of age and 2% of the total population under 3 years of age. North Dakota is currently serving .76% of the children less than 1 years of age and 1.74 % of the population less than 3 years of age.

The Council also reviewed data regarding the ten System Indicators questions completed annually by parents who have children in the North Dakota Early Intervention system.
Action: Informational

Topic: Priority Areas
Discussion: In September, the Council developed five priority areas upon which they wanted to focus. The five areas are childfind, Early Intervention services on reservations, coordination of Quality Enhancement efforts, state funding issues and skills development for families and service providers.
Action: A motion was made by Roxane Romanick and seconded by Ramona Gunderson to approve the five priority areas upon which the Council should focus. Motion carried.

Topic: Experienced Parents
Discussion: The Council discussed the various duties assigned to Experienced Parents in the Minot, Fargo and Bismarck regions. In addition to system and group issues such as newsletters, parent support groups and policy and procedures review; some regions are having the Experienced Parent make the initial contact during intake. All regions except one have expressed an interest in implementing the Experienced Parent model.
Action: The Council will be updated in June regarding implementation of the model.

Topic: Early Intervention Services
Subcommittee Transition GuidelineS
Discussion: Roxane Romanick reported that the Parent Transition Workgroup compiled a list of essential elements for a Parent transition Workbook to complement the Transition video. The writing of the workbook based on the workgroup’s recommendations will be contracted out.

A separate workgroup meet to develop recommendations for Transition Guidelines for Professionals. They recommended that the guidelines be jointly developed for Early Intervention and Pre-school staff, include promising practices scenarios, and support the Parent Transition Workbook.
Action: Written bids will be requested and a contract developed for the writing of the Parent Transition Workbook. The Professional Transition Guidelines Workgroup will continue to develop recommendations.

Topic: Childfind Marketing Plan
Discussion: In December, MABU completed the Childfind Marketing Plan according to their contract. The Council reviewed the Executive summary of the report.
Action: The Department of Human Services will publish a Request For Proposals for the development of material identified in the Marketing Plan. A workgroup will be formed to review and provide feedback regarding the draft material.

Topic: Next Meeting
Discussion: Agenda Topics for the next quarterly meeting to be held in Grand Forks on June 5 include: Council appointments, the Annual Performance Report, sub-committee reports, accreditation for infant development programs, review of the current legislative session, results of NDICC and RICCs training needs assessment, information regarding Early Intervention services on reservations and an update on the implementation of the Experienced Parent Model.

The IDEA Advisory Committee will meet on June 4 and a combined IDEA/NDICC meeting held on the morning of June 5. The NDICC meeting will be held on June 5 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM.

The meeting adjourned at 4:55 PM.