CAPTA—Part C Coordination with Child Find

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) was originally enacted in 1974. CAPTA provides federal funding to States in support of Child Protective Service Agencies. In June 2003, CAPTA provisions were amended to increase the requirements for the referral of a child under the age of 3 who is involved in a substantiated case of abuse or neglect to Early Intervention Services funded under Part C of IDEA.

On December 3, 2004, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, Public Law 108-446, added responsibilities under Part C, Section 637(a)(6)(A&B). The State Part C application for funds shall contain:

"a description of the State policies and procedures that require the referral for early intervention services under this part of a child under the age of 3 who is involved in a substantiated case of child abuse or neglect; or is identified as affected by illegal substance abuse, or withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure."

Work of the OSEP Early Identification Community of Practice has developed resources regarding both of these legislative requirements, implications, and models of collaboration and coordination, which can be found at:

http://www.nectac.org/topics/earlyid/capta.asp

The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC) with the Early Identification Community of Practice has prepared a mini-bibliography on the Impact of Abuse, Neglect, and Foster Care Placement on Infants, Toddlers, and Young Children:

http://www.nectac.org/~pdfs/pubs/abuseneglect.pdf

Additional resources specific to the needs of Native American children who may not be referred through the State’s CAPTA provisions are located in the website managed by the National Indian Child Welfare Association:

http://www.nicwa.org/