STL Area First Steps Blog Coming to an End

ATTENTION- Effective Wednesday, December 31 we will be closing the St. Louis Area Blog site and will no longer add new postings. In lieu of the blog, please visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StLouisAreaFirstSteps for local updates and information.
Thank you for your support of St. Louis Area First Steps.

Long Sleeves & Hoodies!!

Our cold weather attire is finally here!! This time around we are doing things a little different. We do not have as many different colored shirts but we are offering two different colored inks for some of the shirts. Here are the lists of colors and inks that we are offering:

•  White long sleeves with pink ink · 
•  Red long sleeve and · 
•  Red zip up hoodie with white ink 

 We are also offering:

• True Royal,
• Heather Navy and 
• Deep Heather (Dark Grey) Long sleeve shirts in both white ink and pink ink 

We are offering:

•  Deep Heather (Dark Grey) and, 
• Navy Pullover Hoodies in both white and pink ink 

And last we are offering:
Teal Zipper Hoodies and Asphalt (Dark Grey) zipper hoodies in both pink and white ink (and don't forget about the red zippers already mentioned!!).
Long Sleeve Shirts are $15 (Sm-XL) & $17 (2XL-3XL) Zip Up and Pullover Hoodies are $25 (Sm-XL) & $27 (2XL-3XL) 

We will leave the order form open for two weeks and then will place the order with the printing company. At this time the TENTATIVE date for pick up from the office is November 21st.
This is not a guaranteed date but be looking for the e-mail saying they are in around this date.

Due to limited space at the office we will not be ordering extra anymore so now is the time!!

Please do not miss out on these wonderful shirts and this wonderful opportunity to continue to help stock our resource room!!

As usual thank you so much for supporting our resource room.
Our buyers have been busy and we would love to keep them busy!

Click Here for Order Form

After you place your order, you can send cash or check (preferred) to the First Steps office:
St. Louis Area First Steps
Attention: Jodi or Amy 1215 Fern Ridge Pkway, Suite 101
St. Louis, MO 63141
Checks should be made out to St. Louis Area First Steps Trivia
Or you can click below for PayPal

November 13 DAYC-2 Training for St. Louis Area

We would like to announce that an additional DAYC-2 training has been scheduled for the St. Louis Area: 

Thursday November 13 from 2pm-4:30pm held at the SPOE office, 1215 Fern Ridge Pkwy, Suite 101, St Louis, MO 63141.

Seating is limited to approximately 25 people and there is no stipend for attending the DAYC-2 training.

Reminder, all providers who wish to maintain EI Examiner status must attend and complete a DAYC-2 training session. 

To RSVP, please contact Marcy Morrison via email (marcy.morrison@dese.mo.gov) or phone (314) 340-5731.

Please make sure to pass this information on to your team members who may not have attended a training yet.

Thank you

Provider Agreement Requirement for 2014- Bi-Annual Background Checks

Subject: Important - Provider Agreement Requirement for 2014

Source: Pam Thomas, Coordinator, First Steps Program

Intended Audience: First Steps providers

Date: October 15, 2014

The First Steps provider agreement requires providers to maintain enrollment credentials.

IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: The following step must be taken by First Steps providers in order to continue providing First Steps services. Failure to complete this step by the due date will result in the provider account being closed.

Bi-Annual Automated Criminal Check (Due December 31, 2014)
First Steps providers are required to obtain a criminal history check during each even numbered year and submit a copy to the CFO by December 31st of that year. NOTE: The automated check is NOT a full criminal background/fingerprint check.

This means, for any provider who enrolled before 2014, the provider must obtain an automated criminal check through the Missouri State Highway Patrol/Automated Criminal History Site under The Missouri Automated Criminal History Site (MACHS) section on the web at: http://www.mshp.dps.mo.gov/MSHPWeb/PatrolDivisions/CRID/crimRecChk.html.

There is a small fee for the criminal check. Once the automated check is complete, providers need to make sure they open the PDF and print out the actual results. Providers must send a copy of the criminal history check to:
Provider Enrollment/CSC Attn: Missouri Provider Enrollment
PO Box 29134
Shawnee Mission, KS 66201-9134

For more information about your provider account, please contact the CFO at:
1-866-711-2573 ext. 2 or email mofsenroll@csc.com.

St. Louis Area First Steps RICC Mtg Thursday November 6

RICC Meeting

---

When: Thursday, November 6, 2014

Where: The Moog Center for Deaf Education

             12300 S. Forty Dr.

             St. Louis, MO 63141

             314-692-7172

What Time: 12:00pm-1:30pm

Who: YOU! If you are reading this message you should be at this meeting. Also, bring a friend or colleague!

Why: To learn about the Regional Interagency Coordinating Council (RICC)- the primary function of the RICC is to advise and assist the SPOE regarding the effectiveness of the regional system and services to families. The RICC provides input and recommendations to the SPOE operation in the region in the areas of child find and public awareness.

Topics:

• ·       New SPOE Contract- changes to the contract and what the community needs to know
• ·        SPOE Happenings- personnel changes, data report, EITs
• ·        RICC- new structure, membership, committees (Child Find, Advocacy, Provider Relations, Parent Connections, Resource Development)
• ·        DESE Update

EIC/RICC Meeting for Thursday, October 2 CANCELLED

EIC/RICC Meeting for Thursday, October 2 CANCELLED

Next meeting will be Thursday, November 6!

We are in the process of restructuring and transitioning back to a more traditional RICC for the St. Louis SPOE 1 and 2 regions. 

Future RICC meetings will be held from 12:00-1:30 pm

Location:  the Moog Center for Deaf Education

     12300 S Forty Drive 63141

     314-692-7172

Upcoming meeting dates: 

 Thursday November 6, 2014

 Thursday February 12, 2015

 Thursday May 7, 2015

 Thursday August 6, 2015 

Please join us on November 6^th.

The agenda will include:

-Welcome and Introductions

-Explanation of the new meeting structure 

-Report from SPOE Directors to include data report and update on changes, happenings, etc locally and at the state level

-Committee Reports

-Opportunity for questions, comments and discussion

This will be an opportunity to learn about First Steps happenings, have questions answered and network with other community providers.

Information regarding SPOE 1 and 2 can be found at www.Facebook.com/StLouisAreaFirstSteps or on the blog at www.awsmospoe.blogspot.com need the blog site here

Safety Concerns

In light of events that have been happening in our area over the last week, we thought it necessary to make a statement regarding our advice on safety for the First Steps community. We do not ever expect anyone to put themselves or families in obvious danger in the act of providing First Steps services or attending any other First Steps related activities, however, we have to be very clear and consistent regarding how we handle each individual situation.

Specifically regarding our current local situation, please be aware of the following:

• Many families in the Ferguson or surrounding areas may be displaced or no longer in the area. If you are unable to locate a family, please document all attempts to reach them in progress notes and/or case notes, and contact the Service Coordinator.
• If you are scheduled to visit a family and feel unsafe visiting the area, please contact the family and offer alternatives, such as:
  • Meeting them in a different location if possible
  • Canceling and rescheduling for a future date when the situation has improved
• If you do go on a visit:
  • always be aware of your surroundings
  • consider taking someone else with you
  • let someone know where you are going (still maintaining confidentiality) and what time you expect to be finished
• We are never obligated to go into an obviously dangerous situation or to violate any restrictions (e.g. curfews, public orders, etc) for the sake of providing First Steps services. If you feel unsafe and must cancel/reschedule, please document this in progress/case notes and contact the Service Coordinator.
• If visits are missed and were not cancelled by the family, we are obligated to have a discussion and a plan for making them up in a timely manner
• If the family contacts you to cancel a visit, First Steps does not have to offer a make up visit

If you have any questions or particular items to discuss, please contact your Service Coordinator or someone at the First Steps office.

Thank you

Help Support the St. Louis Area First Steps Resource Room by purchasing St. Louis Area First Steps T-Shirts/Onesies

You can help support the Resource Room which provides toys, activities, and other developmentally stimulating items to First Steps families in need by purchasing one of these lovely T-Shirts or onesies. The picture on the shirt was designed by a child from the St. Louis area. The shirts come in a variety of colors and the toddler size/onesies come in royal or raspberry.
T-Shirts (Adult, Youth, and toddler sizes ) are $12.00 ($13.80 for Adult 2X-3X)
Infant Onesies are $12.25 for Newborn through 24months.
Examples of the shirts (Not the exact colors):

Follow this link to order online:
Online Order Form

Please place your order by the end of the day June 27
*********************************************************************************
(For Online Credit Card Payments)

To pay by check/mail please make check payable to St. Louis Area First Steps Trivia and send to:

St. Louis Area First Steps
Attention: Jodi or Amy
1215 Fern Ridge Parkway
Suite 101
St. Louis, MO 63141

First Steps Parents Speak to Service Coordinators About Transition

Transition within and out of First Steps can be a very stressful time for families. Service Coordinators and providers play a very important role in linking families with appropriate resources and services beyond First Steps. On Wednesday, February 26, four parents of children who have recently transitioned from First Steps came to speak with First Steps Coordinators about their experiences.

Christine, Jonna, Heather, and LaCesha graciously agreed to spend time helping Service Coordinators understand what they found helpful during their time in First Steps, especially pertaining to transition. They shared their own stories and suggested ideas to help current and future families navigate through First Steps transition.

We are thankful that they were able to join us and look forward to further conversations about ways to incorporate more parent perspective in our daily practice!

EIT Application for St. Louis Area First Steps (St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County)

If you are interested or know some interested in being considered for a spot on an Early Intervention Team for St. Louis Area First Steps, please follow this link to the online application:

EIT Application for St. Louis Area First Steps

We cannot guarantee anyone a spot on a team, but, as openings arise, we will review the applications on file and contact providers who may fit the team needs at the time.

We currently have 5 zones in the St. Louis Area: City, St. Charles County, North St. Louis County, Central-West St. Louis County, & Southwest St. Louis County.

Providers will need to have a variety of flexible hours, embrace and understand the transdisciplinary coaching model, and also are required to attend EIT meetings for their respective teams. All providers need to be enrolled with the CFO before being placed on an EIT.

Click here for more information on Missouri First Steps Provider Enrollment