Action Alert: Oppose Early Intervention Parent Fee Proposal

Action Alert: Oppose Early Intervention Parent Fee Proposal

The New York State Legislature may consider the budget, including the proposal to charge parents fees for Early Intervention services, as early as the week of March 23rd. Thus, it is critical to spread the word and take action now!

Please see below for four easy action steps you can take to oppose this harmful proposal.

Background:

Brain research demonstrates that the stimulation and interaction a child receives during the first 5 years of life are critical to permanent brain development. Early intervention services can reverse a trajectory of poor development and help prepare children to succeed in school and life, ultimately saving taxpayers money.

New York's Early Intervention (EI) program provides free services to 0-3-year-old children who have developmental delays or disabilities. However, Governor Patterson's 2009-2010 state budget proposal would require families to pay for EI, jeopardizing vulnerable children's access to needed services. Families earning as little as 161% of the federal poverty level ($29,000 for a family of 3) would have to make monthly payments for each eligible child. If a family missed even one payment, the child would lose EI services and become ineligible for EI. Families who are unable to provide proof of income would have to pay the highest amount, impeding the eligibility of children of undocumented immigrants, children whose families are homeless, or children who are in foster care.

Among other provisions, the proposal would also establish more stringent eligibility criteria for children who need speech services only and would allow the NY Department of Health to limit the number of EI providers, making it more difficult for parents to find qualified providers in their communities.

This proposal would burden low-income families and force many families to lose services that help children develop during the important early years.

Take Action:

1. Call your state legislators and urge them to oppose Governor Patterson's budget proposal to require parents to pay for Early Intervention, included in the Health and Mental Hygiene budget legislation (S. 58/ A. 158), because it would burden families and force children to lose EI services. To find your NY State Senator, go to http://www.senate.state.ny.us/senatehomepage.nsf/senators?OpenForm and to find your NY Assembly Member, go to http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem/

2. E-mail your state legislators via the InterAgency Council's Web site. An e-mail for parents of children in EI and an e-mail for staff are both available at http://capwiz.com/iacny/state/main/?state=NY

3. Add your name to the New York Zero-to-Three Network's online petition at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Save-Early-Intervention-in-NYS

4. Forward this e-mail to others who may be interested in taking action.

For more information and updates on what you can do to oppose this proposal, contact Randi Levine at (212) 822-9532 or [email protected]

Re: Action Alert: Oppose Early Intervention Parent Fee Proposal

Thank you for posting this Liza. I think this is a terrible thing that they are proposing which will prevent so many children receiving the help they so desparately need!

I will pass this on, too!