Agreements

• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Collaboration between the
  Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the Missouri Head Start Collaboration Office (MHSCO), and the Missouri Head Start Association (MHSA)
  • MOU Webinar Slides
• Interagency Agreement - First Steps and Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
• Memorandum of Agreement Between The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
• Missouri Department of Education Intra-agency Agreement between First Steps (Part C) and Early Childhood Special Education (Part B)
• Interagency Agreement Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Department of Mental Health for Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
• Interagency Agreement Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Special Education (DESE – OSE) and Department of Social Services, MO HealthNet Division (DSS-MHD) for Missouri First Steps Services
• Interagency Agreement Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services for Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (First Steps)

Missouri Research and Demonstration Projects

The following projects demonstrate activities with infants and toddlers in the state of Missouri:

• Early Intervention Testing Data Review - August 2024
• Missouri First Steps Service Eligibility Forecasting Report - July 2023
• Service Delivery Model Cost Analysis for 2009-2014
• Part C Service Coordinator Caseload Study
• Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, First Steps Program: 2018 Eligibility Review and Forecasting
• Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, First Steps Program: 2012 Eligibility Review and Forecasting
• Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, First Steps Program: 2007 Eligibility Review and Forecasting
• Missouri Department of Mental Health-Division of Developmental Disabilities
  • Medically Fragile Young Child Project (final report) (video)

Scientifically Based Research

As outlined in Section 303.112 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) “Appropriate early intervention services are based on scientifically based research, to the extent practicable’’ means that services and supports should be based on scientifically based research to the extent that it is feasible or possible, given the availability of scientifically based research concerning a particular early intervention service.

The following national organizations have information for early intervention providers regarding research based practices:

• National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center – Evidence-Based Practices
• American Physical Therapy Association – Evidence & Research
• American Occupational Therapy Association – Evidence-Based Practice Resources
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association – Evidence-Based Practice
• National Autism Center – National Standards Report
• Autism Spectrum Disorders: Missouri Best Practice Guidelines for Screening, Diagnosis, and Assessment
• Autism Spectrum Disorders: Guide to Evidence-based Interventions