***UPDATED FIRST STEPS AT GUIDANCE***

Please be aware that DESE has updated the First Steps process for authorizing and obtaining Assistive Tech and Adaptive Equipment devices. Please read below and follow the link to review this guidance. The St. Louis Area SPOE will begin following this procedure immediately as we will be informing our Service Coordination staff as well as the rest of the provider community. If you should have any questions, please contact the SPOE office at the information below.
Highlights of new guidance:
*Verifying need for 3 bids for non-customized equipment obtained by SPOE
*New Form for Family Service Coordinators to submit to SPOE for processing
*Verification of ownership: Family owns the equipment if they have given FS consent to bill private insurance
FS owns the equipment if family has not given consent to bill private insurance or if the family is covered under public insurance (i.e. MO HealthNet)

Message To: Service Coordinators and Service Providers
From: Pam Thomas, Coordinator of the First Steps program
Date: June 14, 2010
There were several new or revised documents posted to the First Steps website today related to Assistive Technology (AT) in First Steps.Topics include AT services and resources, IFSP discussions about AT, and frequently asked Questions and Answers. These documents can be viewed on the First Steps website at:
http://www.dese.mo.gov/divspeced/FirstSteps/AssistTech.htm

Announcement of Early Intervention Teams for St. Louis City and North County

We would like to announce that we have processed through our applications and have created the initial Early Intervention Teams that will begin taking new referrals in St. Louis City and North St. Louis County as soon as July 1, 2010. We have created 3 teams for each area consisting of at least 2 Family Service Coordinators and at least 3 providers from each of the disciplines (OT, SI, ST, PT):

City Team A:
Family Service Coordinators- Amy Morff, Jo Wiggins
ST- Julie Kizer, Regina Winkler, Amanda Wingertsahn, Ashley Hinds
PT- Amy Mohan, Janet Schamp, Adele Gherardini
SI- Staci Landuyt, Tina Trueblood, Virginia Franklin, Kate Hannon, Tina Bayers
OT- Ellen Dresbach, Laura Hotz, Mary Rice, Renee Doll

City Team B:
FSC- Heather Morelan, Mary McDevitt,Becca Courtney
ST- Kelly M. Harris, Julie Reimer, Angela Adrian, Carol Carlberg, Rasheedah Furqan
PT- Kayla Turner, Grace Hagen, Chris Lloyd
SI- Michele Pusateri, Patty Budler-Little, Amy Grothoff, April Curtis, Chris Schmidt
OT- Ruth Farel, Beth Shaffer, Julie Grana, Maja Gruden, Darci Garavaglia, Brandee Zahner

City Team C:
FSC- Erin Maloney, Torri Halbert
ST- Deb Berry, Colleen Davis, Emily Lucas, Shannon Schumacher
PT- Catherine Barinek, Sarah Robinson, Nicole Womack
SI- Claire Brown, Amy McKay, Mary Flood, Theresa Strothkamp
OT- Margaret Russell, Ashley Richardet, Kimberly Stocker, Ellen Venturella-Wilson, Tracie Hope

North County Team A:
FSC- Ruth Nothdurft, Juli Darlington
ST- Curtis Gunn, Melanie SanMiguel, Carla Grundy, Claudia Orf
PT- Kelly Wooldridge, Karey Schwetz, Kayla Turner
SI- Staci Landuyt, Mary Flood, Kate Hannon, Amy Grothoff
OT- Erin Rogaczewski, Beth Schaffer, Ashley Richardet, Marianne Belke

North County Team B:
FSC- Donna Ward, Christy Hooker
ST- Irene Buckalew, Shannon Schumacher, Lisa McNiff, Abby Briggs
PT- Marguerite Jacobs, Catherine Ranger, Mary Curran
SI- Leslie Hernandez, Claire Brown, Theresa Strothkamp
OT- Renee Doll, Maja Gruden, Kim Stocker, Mary Rice, Teddie Genter

North County Team C:
FSC- Tess Gaeng, Katrina Ringo
ST- Melissa Garrett, Karen Fernandez Salvador, Sarah Kirchoff, Ashley Hinds, Kathy Lowrey
PT- Deanna Walter, Julie Drafall
SI- Elaine Miazga, Tina Bayers, Amy McKay, Barbara Willingham
OT- Nicole Lanius, Laura Hotz, Tracie Hope, Margaret Russell


We are very excited about this phase in our process and look forward to moving on with the Early Intervention Teaming Model in the St. Louis Area. As we proceed, we will continuously examine our teams to make sure that we have adequate coverage and families have access to the supports available through the program. This could involve adding members as needed. In the event we need to add new members, we will either review applications already received and/or solicit for more via our online application process.
Thank you and we will continue to keep you updated!