Legislative Action Is Needed Now!

This is a critical issue, and we need your support. Members of our staff, along with other members from ACTS (Agencies for Children’s Therapy Services) traveled to Albany to meet with Department of Health (DOH) officials and several assemblymembers to advocate for an 11% increase in provider rates. Governor Hochul did put forth a proposed 5% increase, but this is simply not enough to have an impact.

It's important to remember that Early Intervention received decreases years ago, and even with an 11% increase, the rate will still be lower than what they were 15 years ago! And this does not even account for inflation!

Early Intervention used to be a field that therapists and educators wanted to be in. Today, there are still many professionals whose hearts are with this age group, but they simply cannot afford to stay. It can not be emphasized enough that EI is where change happens. Providing intervention support at this age level greatly increases the quality of life for a child with special needs and their family. As a community, we often talk about how we can better support families and address critical issues such as mental health. Well, here is the good news, we already have a robust Early Intervention Program in NYS. We cannot afford to let this program collapse and it must be funded accordingly.

Below is a message sent from ACTS. Please take two minutes of your time to click on these links to send a message regarding Early Intervention:

It is IMPERATIVE for you to take action to increase the chances of getting ANY increase. Even 2 minutes of your time will make a difference. All of our efforts add up.

PLEASE do any or all of the 3 actions below:

1. One Click Politics (2 minutes)
a. Click on this link below which will automate sending out letters on your behalf to support 11% for EI.
b. Also, please send this link to your friends and family to take action now.
https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=21940

2. Social Media (please click on links below then LIKE & SHARE)
Facebook Instagram

3. Call Your Legislators & the Governor's Office
a. Click to Find Your Assembly Member https://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/ or
b. Click to Find Your Senator https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator
c. CALL ALL 3 (Assembly Member, Senator, and Governors Office 1-518-474-8390). A call is great because it gives more weight than an email for the
politicians scorecard. (What is a scorecard? Every Assembly Member, Senator, Governor's Office has a scorecard of how many people are for or
against any issue. This informs the politicians which issue to prioritize so they are aligned with the voters. Thus, the more calls, the more likely they
will vote our way.)
d. If you call or visit a politician, you can use the reasons below to support an 11% increase in Early Intervention Rates in 2024.

1. NYS Comptrollers February 2022 report revealed that 51% of children in the Early Intervention program for received either did not receive all of the services during the time they were in the EI program and about 3,000 of those children never received any of their mandated services. The report cited the low rate of pay compared to industry standards as a major reason.
2. The NYS Comptrollers February 2022 report is 2 years old and more recent studies have shown that the situation is now much worse in 2024 than it was in 2022.
3. In the last few years over 2,000 EI teachers and therapists have stopped providing services in the EI program. Low pay in the EI program is a main cause.
4. EI Teachers and Therapists can earn more, or much more, in other programs like Preschool Special Education which has seen increases of 11% and 6.25% respectively just in the last two years.
5. Due to rate cuts in 2010, 2011 that were never fully restored the rate of reimbursement for EI services today in 2024 is lower than they were 15 years ago. In addition, an 11% across the board rate of reimbursement in 2024/25 would not even bring most rates to the level of reimbursement from 15 years ago (see chart below).
6. Economic studies have long shown that there is at least a 7x return on investment for every dollar spent on early intervention. Early help is best for the child, the family and the most sensible use of resources. Many children age out of Early Intervention with no need for special education. When children receive needed intervention many parents also choose to enter the workforce.
7. There is a biological Golden Window of opportunity to help a child when they are young. 80% of children’s brains are formed by age 3, and their brains are 90% formed by age 5. If we miss the opportunity to help a child achieve their full potential when they are young it is much more difficult to help them as they are older. This means that many more resources are needed in Special Education.

Thank you for your support with this critical issue.