Section 500.75  Eligibility Determination

a)         The service coordinator shall, with informed parental consent:

1)         Assist the family in developing an evaluation plan that lists testing activities needed to collect the information and the appropriate available enrolled providers chosen by the family to conduct the tests;

2)         Arrange for the evaluation plan to be implemented; and

3)         Obtain evaluation reports, including statements of evaluator findings related to the child's eligibility status and the child's functioning level, unique strengths and needs in the developmental areas tested and the services appropriate to meet those needs in all of the following five developmental domains:

A)        cognitive development;

B)        physical development, including vision and hearing;

C)        language, speech and communication development;

D)        social-emotional development; and

E)         adaptive self-help skills development.

b)         Providers shall conduct authorized evaluations and provide reports to the service coordinator within 14 calendar days after the receipt of the request to perform an evaluation.

c)         After sufficient information has been collected to determine eligibility status, the service coordinator shall ensure that eligibility is determined as set forth in Section 500.50.  Existing records and evaluation reports may be used to assist with the evaluation/assessment process.  Evaluations/assessments used in the eligibility determination and/or IFSP development process must have been completed no more than six months prior to the child's eligibility determination and/or IFSP development.

d)         If the child is determined eligible, the service coordinator shall:

1)         Inform the parent in writing that the child was determined eligible; and

2)         Assure completion of further comprehensive evaluation/assessment activities with the family.

e)         If the child is determined ineligible the service coordinator shall inform the parent in writing and shall close the case as set forth in Section 500.105.  Written notice shall be consistent with the requirements of Section 500.165.

f)          With informed parental consent, the service coordinator shall notify the referral source in writing of the status of the referral.

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 2161, effective January 23, 2008)