Practice Guidance

• 2019-05 Procedural Safeguard Documentation When Giving Prior Written Notice (PWN)
• Screening
• 2021-03 Developmental Screening: Appropriate Use
• 2018-03 Referral Entry in the Data Management System (DMS)
• 2018-01 Suspending Services

• Evaluation and Assessment
• Remote Evaluation and Assessment Tools
• Age Correction in Evaluation and Assessment of Prematurely Born Infants
• Using CBAs 
• Qualifying Diagnosis List Guidance
  • Searchable Qualifying Diagnosis List
  • DMS Qualifying Diagnosis List Tutorial
• Informed Clinical Opinion
• Children Receiving Inpatient Medical Care – Eligibility and Enrollment
  • Children Receiving Inpatient Medical Care – Eligibility and Enrollment Video Overview
• Ongoing Eligibility
• 2019-3 Updated Evaluation, Assessment, and Ongoing Eligibility Guidance
• 2019-5 Updated Evaluation, Assessment, and Ongoing Eligibility FAQ

• Interim Individualized Family Service Plans
  • Interim Individualized Family Service Plans Video Overview
• Engaging Families in the Child Outcome Summary (COS) Process
  • Engaging Families in the COS Practice Guide Overview
• 2018-04 Ongoing Child Outcome Summary (COS)
• Summary of Functional Performance
• Functional Outcomes
• 2020-05 Documenting Planned Services on the IFSP
• Natural Environments
• IFSP Reviews

• 2018-05 Background Checks for ESIT Providers Entering Childcare Settings
• Cross-System Partnership for Children in Out-of-Home Care
  • Cross-System Partnership for Children in Out-of-Home Care Video Overview
• ESIT autism guidelines
• Late Services - Provision and Documentation
  • Late Services – Provision and Documentation Practice Guide Overview

• Transition (Exit) Reasons Guidance 
• Part C to Part B Transition Timeline
• 2018-01 Suspending Services

Note: Materials on Blind/Low Vision and the Three-Pronged Approach were updated in early 2023. Updates to materials on Deaf/Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind services will be completed soon.

• Pathways to Services for Infants and Toddlers with Blindness or Low Vision Practice Guide
• Three-Pronged Approach
  • Three-Pronged Approach Forms Packet - English
  • Documenting TPA in the DMS
• Practice Guide Infants and Toddlers with Sensory Disabilities (Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Blind/Visually Impaired, or Deaf-Blind)
  • Table of Contents
  • Appendix 1a. Pathway Deaf/Hard of Hearing
  • Appendix 1c. Key to Acronyms
  • Appendix 3. Self Evaluation Tool for EI Programs
  • Appendix 4. Areas to Address with All Families Whose Infants/Toddlers are Identified with Sensory Disabilities
  • View the recording of the practice guide instructional webinar

Request information, resources, or consultation regarding a specific child with hearing loss, visual impairment, or deaf-blindness:

WSDS Request Form

• Practice Guide Medical Homes and Primary Care
• Appendix 1. Background Medical Homes and Primary Care
• Appendix 2. Parent Information Medical Homes and Primary Care
• Appendix 3a. Medical Home Brochure (English)
• Appendix 3b. Medical Home Brochure (Spanish)
• Communication Form: Eligibility Status and Progress Update
• Medical Homes and Primary Care Presentation
• View the recording of the practice guide instructional webinar
• Medical Homes and Primary Care Webinar Power Point Presentation

Providing family-centered services is at the heart of the Early Support for Infants and Toddler’s Guiding Concepts. Research demonstrates coaching to be extremely effective in increasing positive outcomes for both the child and their family. Below you will find several coaching resources, including video examples, which demonstrate various methods of coaching. These resources are available to increase your skills and confidence, but are not required as part of your training. Thank you to these external partners dedicated to family-centered coaching for making these resources available.

Texas Health and Human Services: Coaching Resources

• Coaching Families Modules
  These seven modules describe different components of coaching with families. Introduction to coaching, joint planning, observation, action/practice, feedback, reflection, practice activities, and resources.
• Five Components of Coaching (handout)
  A quick reference guide describing the five components of coaching, with brief reminders of the steps a provider should consider in implementing each component. This resource can be used to prepare for a session or during a home visit as a provider is familiarizing themselves with the coaching approach.

Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center (VEIPD)

Coaching resources handouts, articles, presentations/webinars, tools and videos. Below are links to several video examples helpful for a variety of disciplines in Early Intervention.

Family Guided Routines Based Intervention

Family Guided Routines Based Intervention (FGRBI) and Caregiver Coaching promotes the ability of early intervention providers to coach caregivers to engage their young children in learning as they participate in everyday routines and activities that are meaningful to them. This site includes resources and video examples.

Foundations of Coaching in Early Childhood: Partnering with Parents and Professionals 

Video training resource for early childhood coaches, based on the 5 key characteristics of coaching as outlined by Dathan Rush and M'Lisa Shelden. These characteristics can be applied to a number of early childhood settings.