On December 30, 2005, Governor Owens signed an Executive Order designating the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division for Developmental Disabilities as the Lead Agency for Colorado’s Part C program.  The executive order intends to eliminate unnecessary duplication of Early Intervention Services and to discover and leverage greater efficiencies to better meet the needs of children with developmental delays and disabilities.

The transition will also make Community Centered Boards—the locally-controlled organizations that manage and provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities—the fiscal agents, allowing services to be streamlined and function under the purview of organizations that are acutely familiar with the needs of children with disabilities.

• Child Find Status Report 08/08/06
  Colorado Division for Developmental Disabilities
• Response to Hale-Friesen Report 02/17/06
  Colorado Department of Education
• Governor Owens Memo
  re: the Executive Order
• Governor Owens Executive Order
  December 30, 2005
• Hale-Friesen Report Part C 04/15/05

• There are approximately 800 children on the waiting list for services. Early reports indicate that the transition of Part C to the Division for Developmental Disabilities—to be completed by July 1, 2006—will immediately free up enough resources to take hundreds of children off the waiting list. At one CCB alone, they are projecting that the transition will allow them to serve an additional 50 children.

• A recent study found that of the $6.8 million received by the State of Colorado under Part C, just $500,000 went to actual direct therapeutic services. The transition also looks to streamline service delivery and eliminate unnecessary administrative costs; thus, more funding will be used for direct services.

• By making CCBs the fiscal agent, more children will receive high-quality services. The CCBs have extensive experience in managing service coordination and direct services, and have helped serve thousands of children. Additionally, close relationships with local early childhood agencies will further the ability to provide direct services.

There are some challenges ahead as the Division for Developmental Disabilities works to transition Part C over from the Department of Education.  However, the changes that lie ahead will undoubtedly improve the lives of countless Colorado children!