Senior Recital: Amanda Lynn Ringwalt, soprano

This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree Bachelor of Music in Music Education. Ms. Ringwalt studies voice with Eileen Moremen.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1530/thumbnail.jp

Overview of States' Use of Telehealth for the Delivery of Early Intervention (IDEA Part C) Services

Background: Early intervention (EI) services are designed to promote the development of skills and enhance the quality of life of infants and toddlers who have been identified as having a disability or developmental delay, enhance capacity of families to care for their child with special needs, reduce future educational costs, and promote independent living (NECTAC 2011).  EI services are regulated by Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA); however, personnel shortages, particularly in rural areas, limit access for children who qualify.  Telehealth is an emerging delivery model demonstrating potential to deliver EI services effectively and efficiently, thereby improving access and ameliorating the impact of provider shortages in underserved areas. The use of a telehealth delivery model facilitates inter-disciplinary collaboration, coordinated care, and consultation with specialists not available within a local community.  Method:  A survey sent by the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC) to IDEA Part C coordinators assessed their utilization of telehealth within states’ IDEA Part C programs.  Reimbursement for provider type and services and barriers to implement a telehealth service delivery model were identified.  Results:  Representatives from 26 states and one jurisdiction responded to the NECTAC telehealth survey.  Of these, 30% (n=9) indicated that they are either currently using telehealth as an adjunct service delivery model (n=6) or plan to incorporate telehealth within the next 1-2 years (n=3).  Identified telehealth providers included developmental specialists, teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH), speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, behavior specialists, audiologists, and interpreters.  Reimbursement was variable and included use of IDEA Part C funding, Medicaid, and private insurance.  Expressed barriers and concerns for the implementation of telehealth as a delivery model within Part C programming included security issues (40%; n=11); privacy issues (44%; n=12); concerns about quality of services delivered via telehealth (40%; n=11); and lack of evidence to support the effectiveness of a telehealth service delivery model within IDEA Part C programming (3%; n=1).  Reimbursement policy and billing processes and technology infrastructure were also identified as barriers impacting the implementation of telehealth programming.  Conclusions:  Provider shortages impact the quantity and quality of services available for children with disabilities and developmental delay, particularly in rural areas.  While many states are incorporating telehealth within their Early Intervention (IDEA Part C) services in order to improve access and overcome personnel shortages, barriers persist. Policy development, education of stakeholders, research, utilization of secure and private delivery platforms, and advocacy may facilitate more widespread adoption of telehealth within IDEA Part C programs across the country

The Development of Statewide Policies and Procedures to Implement Telehealth for Part C Service Delivery

The use of telehealth has been discussed nationally as an option to address provider shortages for children, birth through two, enrolled in Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Early Intervention (EI) programs. Telehealth is an evidence-based service delivery model which can be used to remove barriers in providing EI services to children and their families. In 2016, Colorado’s Part C Early Intervention (EI) program began allowing the use of telehealth as an option for providers to conduct sessions with children and their caregivers. This article outlines the process taken to develop the necessary requirements and supports for telehealth to be incorporated into EI current practice

Experimental investigations related to ionospheric probing, Part 1 Final report

D region simulation by ultraviolet photoionization of nitric oxid

Prevention 2000: Moving Effective Programs Into Practice

Outlines recommendations from an October 2000 symposium on how to implement effective, evidence-based drug prevention programs at the federal, state, and local levels, such as integrating school-based and community efforts. Summarizes briefing papers

Strength and Comprehensiveness of School Wellness Policies in Southeastern US School Districts

In 2004, Congress passed legislation mandating that all public school districts participating in federal school meal programs develop a school wellness policy (SWP) to direct efforts related to nutrition and physical activity. We examined the extent to which SWPs varied in comprehensiveness and strength in a representative sample of school districts in the southeastern United States, the area of the country with the highest rates of childhood obesity

Racial Disparities Across Provider Specialties in Opioid Prescriptions Dispensed to Medicaid Beneficiaries with Chronic Noncancer Pain

Chronic pain affects both psychological and physical functioning, and is responsible for more than $60 billion in lost productivity annually in the United States. Although previous studies have demonstrated racial disparities in opioid treatment, there is little evidence regarding disparities in treatment of chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) and the role of physician specialty