First Steps Listserv

Subject: LICC Supports to the First Steps Program

Source: Division of Special Education, Rick Hutcherson, Coordinator of Administration

Local Interagency Coordinating Councils (LICCs) are an important factor to the success of the First Steps program for suspected and eligible infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. Due to budget reductions and uncertainty of costs during the startup period for the Redesign, the Division, in collaboration with the SICC, decided that ongoing funding for the LICCs could impact the funding for direct services and other critical components of the Redesign, including financing the Central Finance Office and the network of SPOEs. Regardless of limitations of funding available to the Division of Special Education to financially support LICCs, the Division continues to encourage LICC formation and operation in communities throughout Missouri on behalf of children with disabilities and specifically, those within their first years of life.

This ongoing commitment is reflected in the bid requirements for organizations or individuals seeking to provide SPOE services for the Phase 2 areas of Missouri. The following is from Section 1.3.2 of the Phase 2 SPOE bid document. The complete document may be viewed at http://www.oa.mo.gov/purch/b3z03004.htm.

b. Local Interagency Coordinating Councils (LICCs) - In addition to the State council, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education encourages the development of Local Interagency Coordinating Councils (LICCs). A list of the current LICCs is included herein as Attachment 7. For the most part, a LICC is located in a single county although sometimes one LICC covers 2 or 3 counties. These LICCs will assist the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with oversight of the effectiveness of the First Steps program and the services that will be performed via this RFP. Attachment 5 includes information on potential roles for the LICCs.

B3Z03004 Attachment 5 Page 1

Potential Roles for the Local Interagency Coordinating Councils (LICCs)

Local coordinating body to advise and assist the State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) and the lead agency (DESE)

Develop, implement, and evaluate local child find system

Provide local leadership in public relations activities in collaboration with the state agency

Ensures policies and procedures are in place in the county, including:

Service coordination options

Due process and procedural safeguards information distribution

Authentic voice for First Steps

Interagency agreements:

Maintenance of Effort

Non-duplication

Referrals

Participation in the IFSP process

Transition

Assists in the local quality assurance of the SPOE

Conducts needs assessment for systems coordination

Strategic planning

Quality assurances

Expansion of provider base