Early Childhood Care & Education

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Integrated Care Rounds (May and June 2025)

Posted on by manda.hufstedler@duke.edu

Description

NC InCK's May and June 2025 Integrated Care Rounds discuss autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through a trauma-informed, strengths-based lens. These sessions share practical resources and insights that offer a deeper understanding of how we can best support individuals with ASD and their families.

Click this link for the May 2025 ASD Integrated Care Rounds slide deck.

Click this link for the May 2025 ASD Integrated Care Rounds slide deck.

Key Takeaways

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents with varying degrees of severity and may require different levels of support. If developmental concerns are present, getting evaluated can be critical to accessing services and supports.
  • Evaluation referrals can be made by the individual’s pediatrician, primary care provider, or school for students in grades K-12. Due to the volume of referrals, individuals are encouraged to get on several wait lists and to follow up often on any cancellations or no-shows.  
  • While waiting for an evaluation, learning more about autism spectrum disorder is encouraged, as it can provide helpful context and informed decision-making. It may also be helpful to practice coping skills while not in a state of crisis to reduce the inability to access them during times of stress. 
  • Getting connected to therapies- such as outpatient behavioral health, speech/occupational/physical, or music/art/equine- could also be beneficial while waiting to be evaluated. 
  • Most individuals with an autism spectrum diagnosis will be eligible for tailored care management provided by the MCO specific to their county. 

Resources

  • Autism Society of NC (ASNC) - Aims to improve the lives of individuals with autism, their families, and communities through advocacy, education and direct services. ASNC offers a directory of resources for evaluations, support groups, training, and advocates for policies that support the needs of individuals with ASD.
  • Children’s Developmental Services Agency (CDSA) - Provides early intervention supports and services for families and their children ages 0-3 with special needs in the form of assessments and evaluations, service coordination, and transition planning. 
  • Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC) - Provides information, support, training, and resources to assist families caring for individuals with special needs from birth to age 26. 

Supporting Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs Integrated Care Rounds (September 2024)

Posted on by manda.hufstedler@duke.edu

Description

Join the NC InCK team as they discuss how best to support children and youth with special health care needs in the September 2024 Integrated Care Rounds.

Click this link for the September 2024 Supporting Children &Youth with Special Health Care Needs Integrated Care Rounds Slide Deck

Key Takeaways

  • Children with a medical complexity make up less than 1% of children in the U.S. 
  • A care coordination team can support families by understanding concerns, navigating financial or housing issues, advocating within the public school system, and guiding ongoing goals of care as well as discussions about realistic goal setting 
  • The CAP/C Waiver provides additional supportive services to supplement services from regular Medicaid Direct/insurance such as private duty nursing, durable medical equipment and supplies, therapy services, and home health 

Resources

  • NC InCK Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Guide: This guide is designed for Family Navigators and other professionals serving families of children with complex medical needs, intellectual disabilities, and/or traumatic brain injuries. This guide contains information to help Family Navigators and others connect CYSHCN to the services/supports they need to thrive. 
  • North Carolina LIFTSS: NC Medicaid implemented NCLIFTSS (Linking Individuals & Families to Long Term Services and Supports). NCLIFTSS provides Medicaid beneficiaries a long-requested single point of entry for accessing Medicaid Lomg Term Services and Supports and streamline processes between initial contact and service provision. 
  • NC Exceptional Children's Assistance Center: A parent organization, committed to improving the lives and education of ALL children through a special emphasis on children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. See the website for important resources, trainings, and opportunities to connect with a parent educator. 

Early Childhood Part 2 Integrated Care Rounds (March 2024)

Posted on by manda.hufstedler@duke.edu

Description

In this second discussion of early childhood supports, the NC InCK team outlines services, collaboratives, and resources that help early care, education, and health.

Click this link for the March 2024 Early Childhood Part 2 Integrated Care Rounds Slide Deck

Key Takeaways

  • Child Care Referral Central is a regional (Alamance, Caswell, Person, Franklin, Granville and Vance counties) collaborative that offers free customized childcare referrals & information on vouchers or scholarships for all families seeking care from birth to age 12.  
  • Early Intervention services are critical in supporting children and families. Two major programs that provide these services are: the Children’s Developmental Services Agency (CDSA, aka Infant-Toddler Program) and Care Management for At-Risk Children (CMARC). CDSA offers services for kids ages 0-3 who exhibit developmental delays or have established conditions, while CMARC supports children who have special healthcare needs, ACES, exposure to substance use, or been in the neonatal intensive care unit. 
  • To apply for Pre-K, children must live within the district they are applying for, and be aged 4 (or will turn 4) by August 31st. Pre-K application materials vary by county.

Resources

 

Early Childhood Integrated Care Rounds (May 2022)

Posted on by manda.hufstedler@duke.edu

Description

The May 2022 Early Childhood Integrated Care Rounds event shares early childhood resources and valuable family perspectives. The NC InCK team and our guests discussed the importance of well child visits, quality child care, and early literacy efforts.

Click this link for the May 2022 Early Childhood Integrated Care Rounds slide deck.

Key Takeaways

  • Well-child visits are essential, and preventative care through well-child visits leads to numerous long-term, positive health and well-being outcomes. 
  • Family Navigators can help families attend well-child visits with three-way calls to support scheduling, connecting families to resources such as MyChart and Medicaid transportation, and by initiating conversations on the importance of well-child care. 
  • Family Navigators can support the importance of high-quality child care with families and connect families to the Child Care Referral Center for options. 
  • Early language and literacy habits in the home are key indicators of every child's healthy development. Examples of key literacy programs are provided. 

Resources

Enhanced Services ECHO Series (February 2023)

Posted on by manda.hufstedler@duke.edu

Description

The NC InCK team and our guests discussed enhanced services, including Pre-K applications, nutrition services, and value-added services during the February 2023 ECHO Series event.

Click this link for the Enhanced Services ECHO Series Integrated Care Rounds slide deck.

Key Takeaways

  • Applications for Pre-K open in the Spring of each year, and districts have different eligibility and application deadlines. Details and links to Pre-K programs in NC InCK’s six school districts are provided.  
  • COVID-era food benefits are expiring, and Family Navigators can play an important role in connecting families to WIC, school meals, and making sure families are receiving the maximum SNAP benefit.  
  • Each PHP has a robust set of value-added services for families. This training walks through school supply, asthma, doula, and tutoring benefits offered by PHPs with links to each benefit page.

Resources

Child Care Referral Center: Search for child care options in your area or see contact details for the Referral Center for support in finding child care or applying to Pre-K

 

Online web pages to find the value-added benefits by Prepaid Health Plan: 

  1. Amerihealth Benefits 
  2. CCH Benefits 
  3. Healthy Blue Benefits 
  4. United Benefits 
  5. Wellcare Benefits 

Summer Supports Integrated Care Rounds (April 2023)

Posted on by manda.hufstedler@duke.edu

Description

The NC InCK team and our guests discussed summer activities for children, summer meals, and Medicaid renewal during the April 2023 Summer Supports Integrated Care Rounds event.

Click this link for the April 2023 Summer Supports Integrated Care Rounds slide deck.

Key Takeaways

  • Summertime can lead to numerous negative outcomes for children experiencing poverty, including academic loss, increased food insecurity, and unhealthy behavior. 
  • High-quality summer enrichment programs can improve academic, mental health, and physical health for children. 
  • This training includes camps and public programs offered through libraries, county parks and recreation, and cooperative extension offices in each of NC InCK’s five counties as well as guidance on how to learn about summer meal sites in a family’s area. 

Resources

Additional Online Camp Finder Tools:

  1. NC Site Finder-Summer Meals for Children
  2. NC Summer Camp Directory for Children with Special Needs 

For information on some Utility and Financial Assistance Programs through NCDHHS: 

  1. Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)
  2. Crisis Intervention Program (CIP)
  3. Emergency Assistance (Short-Term Financial Assistance for Families in Crisis)/TANF
  4. Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) 

Enhanced ePASS Account Tips 

Early Childhood Guide for Schools

Posted on by manda.hufstedler@duke.edu

The ABC Science Collaborative and NC InCK developed the Early Childhood Guide for Schools, which is designed to serve as a quick reference tool for school social workers and others in North Carolina schools who may need to connect students and families with early childhood-related community services and resources.