Recorded presentation

Jill C. Fromewick, MS, Orelena Hawks Puckett Institute, 18A Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 828-255-0470, jfromewick@puckett.org

As of December 1, 1999, Part C Early Intervention services throughout the U.S. were serving approximately 205,000 infants and toddlers with or at-risk for developmental delay, representing 1.78% of the total population of children from birth to age two. Program enrollment, however, is far from evenly distributed either between states or between counties within states. This variability points to the fact that many infants and toddlers might not be receiving the services they need. While a burgeoning literature of contextual analyses have shown the importance of “place” effects on child development, there is a dearth of literature focusing on geographic influences on early intervention enrollment. Thus, the goal of this project is to identify and map between-state and within-state variation in Part C enrollment. A second goal is to investigate which state-level policy and practice variables and county-level demographic characteristics contribute to variation in participation patterns. Due to the “nesting” of counties within states, multilevel analyses are conducted. Multilevel modeling allows us to take state and local factors into account simultaneously, allowing us to disentangle how much variation is attributable to state or local factors. Specifically, multilevel analytic strategies are used to (a) describe the between-state and within-state variation in enrollment rates, and (b) determine the relative effects of state-level policy and county-level demographic factors on county enrollment. Findings will be disseminated to policymakers, researchers, Part C coordinators, service providers, and parents, to direct interventions to increase enrollment for those who are most underserved.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe state-level and county-level variability in Early Intervention Part C enrollment for infants and toddlers with or at-risk for disabilities.
• Identify three state-level and three county-level predictors of enrollment in Early Intervention.
• Articulate the importance of employing multilevel analytic methods to disentangle state and local predictors of variability in Early Intervention enrollment.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation