Serving Children with Disabilities

The Keeping Children Safe Act of 2003 amended the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) to require that each state develop "provisions and procedures for referral of a child under the age of 3 who is involved in a substantiated case of child abuse or neglect to early intervention services funded under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Passage of this act recognizes that child welfare workers have contact with a population of children who are at high risk for developmental disabilities. It obligates child welfare systems to refer children and charges early intervention systems with evaluating children to determine their eligibility for services and providing early intervention to those who are eligible.

The Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development has training materials to assist child welfare workers in identifying and serving children with disabilities and their families. The series Serving Children with Disabilities A Video Series for Child Welfare Workers includes three 20-minute videos and four handbooks: Print copies of the handbooks are no longer available; however, they are available in PDF format. Videos can be ordered from Mary Moreland at deaconm@georgetown.edu, 202/687-8803 while supplies last.

Developmental Disabilities (PDF format)

Supporting Families with Children with Disabilities (PDF format)

Accessing Services through IDEA (PDF format)

Resource Manual (PDF format)

Questions?
Contact author Toby Long, longt@georgetown.edu, or Jan McCarthy, jrm33@georgetown.edu