About Child Find ACCESS
Child Find ACCESS is an evidence-based model designed to help local early intervention programs explore and improve systems for identifying, referring, evaluating, and enrolling infants and toddlers who may benefit from early intervention (also known as “child find”).
The model uses a systematic process that is data-driven, community-engaged, and family-centered. It provides a framework and structure for engaging multiple perspectives in forming a cross-sector team to guide the work.
The Child Find ACCESS model includes processes for digging into data to understand the child find system. For example, local program teams identify strengths that can be built on, as well as challenges, and then plan and implement strategies to address challenges. They also engage families, key partners, and other community members throughout the work to ensure planned improvements are relevant and meet their needs.
Throughout these processes, Child Find ACCESS uses a systems change approach to promote meaningful, lasting change.
How was Child Find ACCESS Developed?
In 2021, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) in the U.S. Department of Education funded three model demonstration programs, including SRI’s Child Find ACCESS (grant #H326M210002), to develop and implement evidence-based strategies in real-world settings to increase effectiveness of child find systems.
The Child Find ACCESS model builds on the experiences and expertise of local Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C program staff, primary referral sources (such as families, medical professionals, and child care providers), and other key partners. It systematically guides these local teams through a phased approach for exploring and improving local child find practices.
SRI developed the Child Find ACCESS model in collaboration with three county-level teams in North Carolina from 2021 to 2025. Each team used the processes outlined in the Child Find ACCESS Model Guide to form a cross-sector team, explore their local child find system, identify challenges and the root causes of those challenges, devise and implement strategies to address those root causes, and make plans for sustaining the model.
Through these processes, team members reported having a greater understanding of the scope of the child find system, feeling more confident in looking at and using data to inform them, and receiving mutual benefits from the collaboration.
Testimonials
It has been a great learning experience for me … I appreciate all the updates, because sometimes we get siloed. And even though I think I know a lot about the [early intervention program], it’s always a learning experience. Also, when you bring the perspective from the state of what’s going on there, and the different organizations, and also from the parents, it has been a learning experience. I’ve enjoyed it, and hopefully I can continue to make some contribution toward getting the children and families the services that they need. And still, I know [there is] a lot to be done, but this has been … at least the gathering and getting individuals together has been very helpful to me.
— North Carolina Community Member
It’s been refreshing to have all of these individuals, each and every one of you here, for the goal of making sure that children have access to early intervention. I feel like I’ve learned a lot about each of you, and your input into this work has shown me how dedicated you are to the children that we serve, or as parents. It’s great to hear about your children, and helping bring other children into the program through your experiences. I just think it’s been wonderful, and I hope that through this process that you all have learned more about early intervention, and what our goals are, and how our processes work.
— North Carolina Community Member
When you bring the perspective from the state of what’s going on there, and the different organizations, and also from the parents, it has been a learning experience. I’ve enjoyed it, and hopefully I can continue to make some contribution toward getting the children and families the services that they need. And still, I know a lot to be done, but this has been … at least the gathering and getting individuals together has been very helpful to me, I’ve enjoyed that.
— North Carolina Community Member