Child Care Support Network

Department of Education, Association of RI Administrators of Special Education and local School Districts

Department of Health and local early intervention services

Head Start including the New England Head Start RAP for Disabilities Services, the RI Head Start Collaboration Grant, RI Head Start Association and local Head Start programs

Parent Support Network

RI Parent Information Network, VNA of New England, Spurwink

the University of Rhode Island Child Development Centers

the negotiation of the December, 1997 Interagency Agreement between the RI Department of Education, RI Department of Health, RI Department of Human Services, and the US Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families.

the development of the Technical Assistance Guide for Promoting Collaboration Among Early Intervention Head Start, Public Schools, and Related Agencies for Children with Disabilities Ages Birth through Five and their Families.

the provision of annual statewide training for local agency and family representatives interested in collaborating in order to provide comprehensive quality inclusive services for young children and their families.

the December, 1997 RI Department of Education, RI Department of Health, RI Department of Human Services, and the US Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Interagency Agreement. (pdf file: 25KB) A state level agreement intended to ensure service continuity and facilitate collaboration among state and local programs serving young children ages birth through five years with disabilities and their families in a manner that will promote efficient and effective use of public resources and consistent with the goals and objective use of public resources and be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Children's Cabinet State Child System Plan. These programs include those operated by the local education agencies governed by the RI Department of Education, Head Start governed by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families through its Region I Office; and Early Intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities; Early Intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families governed by the RI Department of Health. The RI Department of Human Services is also party to this agreement because it is the state Medicaid agency.

State Level Interagency Agreement Overview (pdf file: 15KB) provides a summary of the December, 1997 Agreement.

Summary of Key Legal Requirements of the participating Agencies (pdf file: 25KB) is a side-by-side document integrating provisions of Early Intervention, Head Start and Education related to children ages birth to age five years with disabilities and their families.

Collaboration Strategies (pdf file: 76.9KB) identifies common collaboration challenges and strategies for addressing these challenges related to the twelve areas of collaboration cited in the state level Interagency Agreement.

Resources (pdf file: 119KB): Descriptions of agencies and programs that have identified themselves as being willing to share information on collaboration strategies and services related to children ages birth through five years with disabilities and their families.

Tasks, Tips, and Tools for Promoting Collaborative Community Teams (pdf file: 132KB): Identifies tasks for starting and sustaining collaborative teams along with tips for doing this effectively. This resource provides practical tools for carrying out these tasks and tips such as: sample forms and letters; formats for agendas; ground rules and minutes; and step-by-step instructions for activities such as assessing the current community context, visioning, priority setting, and action planning.