Section 50. Referrals to the single point of entry

A. All local lead agencies shall identify a single point of entry in their respective local early intervention systems to receive all referrals and inquiries from families and primary referral sources. This single point of entry shall be published in local public awareness and child find materials and communicated to potential referral sources.

B. Primary referral sources shall refer to the single point of entry any infant or toddler potentially eligible for early intervention services as soon as possible, but in no case more than seven days, after the child has been identified as potentially eligible.

C. The department shall require that local community services boards responsible for implementing and managing discharge plans required by § 32.1-127 B 6 of the Code of Virginia for substance-abusing postpartum women and their infants refer to the single point of entry any child under the age of three years who is identified as affected by illegal substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure.

D. The Department of Social Services shall refer to the single point of entry any child under the age of three years who is:

1. Identified as affected by illegal substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure, or

2. The subject of a founded disposition of child abuse or neglect.

E. Early intervention service providers shall refer to the single point of entry any infant or toddler potentially eligible for early intervention services who becomes known to the provider through any source other than the early intervention system.

F. Parental consent shall not be required in order to make a referral to the local early intervention system, and the local system shall accept a referral even if the referral source has not informed the family of the referral.

G. Referrals to the local single point of entry may be made by phone, fax, mail, email, or web-based system; in writing; or in person.

H. When making a referral, the referral source shall provide, at minimum, the child's or a family member's name and one method of contacting the family.

I. The date on which the local single point of entry receives a referral shall be counted as the first day of the 45-day timeline specified in 12VAC35-225-80 C within which eligibility determination, assessment for service planning, and the initial IFSP meeting shall be completed.

J. The single point of entry shall inform referred families whose children are close to the age of eligibility for early childhood special education services through the local school division under Part B that they have the option to be referred to the local school division instead of or simultaneously with referral to early intervention under Part C.

K. Upon referral, the single point of entry shall begin an early intervention record for the child and assign a service coordinator who will assist the family with intake, eligibility determination, and, if eligible, assessment for service planning and development of an IFSP.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 32, Issue 10, eff. February 27, 2016.

Statutory Authority

§ 2.2-5304 of the Code of Virginia.