Funding for the state’s Early Steps program is a growing concern among many advocates in Tallahassee and throughout the state.

At a Jan. 27 meeting of the Florida Interagency Coordinating Council for Infants and Toddlers, state officials discussed the possibility of withdrawing from the IDEA Part C grant program that funds Early Steps. 

The chief concern is the future of the program once federal stimulus money runs out. According to the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council: 

Funding per child is at a critical level that has forced many providers to withdraw participation or offer services that are inadequate in scope and frequency, therefore minimizing the impact that these services can provide. Without help from the Federal Economic Stimulus Package, Early Steps would not have been able to meet their Federal Match requirement (22%) and would not have been able to continue helping children during their critically important first three years (click here for full document)

Early Steps program administrators remain hopeful that Florida will see an increased share of federal funding.

However, if the state choses to give up the grant funding for Early Steps, literally thousands of children will no longer receive the medically-based therapies needed to improve their developmental functioning.

As it is, commercial health plans and Florida Medicaid HMOs routinely deny therapy services for thousands of children. The state cannot afford to let these toddlers — many of whom have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder — go without therapies at a key time in their development. In their denial letters to parents, Medicaid HMOS instruct them to seek services through Early Steps instead.

This is a critical issue for pediatric therapy providers enrolled in the program. The Alliance has made it a top 2010 legislative priority, and we encourage providers to join us in our lobbying efforts.

Early Steps is the state’s early intervention program for children ages birth through 3. Occupational, physical and speech therapies are among the services provided.

For more information about the Early Steps program, click here.