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Colorado Early Intervention Provider Database

Learn about Early Intervention (EI) Colorado, Colorado’s Infant and Toddler Initiative.

Early Intervention (EI) Colorado, Colorado’s Infant and Toddler Initiative under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, developed an online EI provider database in 2010. It contains information about those who provide services for EI in the State of Colorado. The purpose of the database is to:

  • Track Colorado EI service providers and information regarding their credentials, licenses and certifications; and
  • Connect families who have children with developmental delays or disabilities and their service coordinators with early intervention service providers.

Early Intervention Service Provider Information:

The database enables families eligible for EI services, service coordinators and EI directors to search for early intervention providers by zip code, discipline, and/or service provider name. Once populated, search results provide detailed information regarding service providers. Some of these details include:

  • Provider discipline (e.g. physical therapist, occupational therapist, service coordinator, speech language pathologist, developmental intervention assistant etc.);
  • Years of experience with young children and methodologies used (coaching, direct service, multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary);
  • Geographic service areas;
  • If the provider has openings;
  • Availability (days and times);
  • Specialty areas (e.g., apraxia, articulation, augmentative communication, autism spectrum disorders, feeding/swallowing, language disorders, etc.);
  • Medicaid acceptance;
  • Trainings completed;
  • Languages spoken;
  • Credentials and licensure; and
  • Contact information.

Participants:

Only early intervention providers who work for Community Center Board (CCB) Early Intervention programs are required to participate in the provider database. CCBs are private non-profit organizations designated in statute as the single entry point into the long-term service and support system for persons with developmental disabilities. Colorado contracts with twenty CCBs to deliver community-based services. Each CCB has a non-overlapping geographic service region of one to ten counties. CCBs are responsible for case management and service coordination services including intake, eligibility determination, service plan development, arrangement for services, delivery of services (either directly or through purchase), monitoring, and many other functions. Additionally, CCBs are responsible for assessing service needs and developing plans to meet the needs of their local service area.

Database Benefits:

The database provides EI Colorado with data regarding geographic areas where there are potential gaps in early intervention services. The state can use this information to target their provider recruitment efforts to better meet the early intervention needs of infants, toddlers and their families. EI Colorado also uses the data to serve as verification that EI providers meet qualified personnel standards as defined in the Early Intervention State Plan under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The database allows custom searches to be built to provide data to inform state and local activities. Recently, data from the provider database was used to assess the distribution and type of providers who bill Medicaid throughout the state.

Benefits to Families:

The database allows families to have informed choice of appropriate early intervention providers. After the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) has been completed and the necessary services for an eligible child and family determined, the service coordinator supports the family in using the database to review all available providers of the required type, and the family chooses the provider they feel is the best fit for their family, including consideration of provider availability at times that work best for the family routine and schedule.

Benefits to Service Providers and CCBs:

The database allows service providers to create and maintain a record that can be updated as often as necessary. As a provider completes new training or professional development activities or gains new certification or licensure, this information can immediately be added to their provider record, including uploading supporting documentation. Providers can update their hours of availability, so that they do not receive inappropriate referrals. CCB EI Directors use the database as a way to manage all providers associated with their program. The database generates automatic reminders when provider information, such as licensure or insurance information is expired. These reminders are sent to both the provider and their associated CCBs. The database also allows for different types of users. The user type determines what can be viewed, assuring confidentiality.

Support with Measuring Child Outcomes:

Information from the database informs other state initiatives, such as Child and Family Outcomes measurements. For example, if a specific CCB is underperforming in a child outcomes measurement, such as Uses appropriate behavior to meet their needs, the database can be queried to determine if there are sufficient providers of social and emotional services in that area.

Connections to other Statewide Databases:

Colorado aligned the EI database with the Professional Development Information System (PDIS), a statewide provider information system for early childhood professionals. This system was being developed as a part of Colorado’s Early Learning Challenge Grant (Race to the Top).

Updated November 2015

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