Support Infant Learning Programs to Build Strong Foundations for Success!
Alaska’s Infant Learning Programs (ILP) provide a broad array of early intervention services to infants and toddlers with special needs and their families. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates early intervention services for children birth to three who have a diagnosed condition or a significant developmental delay. Research has shown that for every dollar invested in early intervention services, future savings of $3 to $17 can be expected.
February Postcard Drive
The Alaska's Kids Can't Wait advocacy group are thrilled that the $2 million increase was added to the Governor's budget for 2010. It is now the work of parents and providers to ensure that lawmakers are well informed so the funding can remain in the budget.
During the month of February, we are asking parent with children in the Infant Learning Program (or graduates) to send a photo of their child to their lawmakers to let the decision makers know that ILP is an important program that needs the increase in funding. A large mailing label sticker can be applied to the back of the photo to turn it into a postcard.
Download Postcard Template (PDF 9KB)
Challenges
Infant Learning Programs are struggling to provide services with funding that has not kept pace with inflation and increased operating costs. Due to flat funding over the past 5 years, ILP programs are having difficulty matching the market's competitive wages making it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain qualified personnel.
Since 2005, Infant Learning Programs are serving more children but with flat funding, programs have not been able to hire and retain needed staff. As a result there has been a 15% decrease in therapy services, affecting the quality and the effectiveness of ILP services for Alaska's children.
In 2003, an unfunded federal mandate of the Children Abuse Prevention Treatment Act required all children (birth to 3) involved in substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect be referred to ILP for developmental evaluation. This has resulted in an over 200% increase in screenings for Infant Learning Programs.
Infant Learning Program staff must be highly qualified under the IDEA. Currently 35% of ILP staff have a waiver enabling them to provide services as they do not meet the highly qualified requirements.
Please refer to the Talking Points document for more information. Download document (PDF 3.25MB)
Call to Action
To meet the current needs of Alaska’s young children and families, we are proposing a $2 million funding increment to support children currently enrolled in Infant Learning Programs. $1.5 million of this increase would allow ILP programs to meet growing operating costs and inflation rates. $500,000 would be used to implement the States professional development plan which will enable ILP providers to meet highly qualified requirements of IDEA.
Your actions will impact Alaska’s future. Support the $2 million dollar FY10 increment for Infant Learning Programs so they can provide quality early intervention services for infants and toddlers.