DCH wants comment on 'Babies Can't Wait' - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

 ATLANTA (GA) - The Babies Can't Wait (BCW) Program is Georgia's statewide early intervention system for infants and toddlers with special needs, ages birth to three, and their families.  The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) Division of Public Health (DPH) is the lead agency for administration of the BCW system. 

As required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C section 34 CFR §§303.110-303.113, "the State must publish its Part C application or policy in a manner that will ensure circulation throughout the State at least 60-days prior to the date on which the application or policy is submitted and allow an opportunity for public comments on the application or policy for at least 30 days during that 60-day publication period. 

In order to meet this requirement,  BCW invites interested persons to participate in a 60-day public comment period for the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2011 Annual State Application under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Data Policy, Transition Policy , Service Coordination Policy, Individualized Family Service Plan Policy, Evaluation & Assessment Policy and Hearing Loss Eligibility Memo from March 10, 2011 to May 10, 2011.  The public may review the revised policies online (http://health.state.ga.us) or at locations throughout the state and comment in four ways:

(1)        Written comments will be received until  May 10, 2011:

Babies Can't Wait
2 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 11-222
Atlanta, GA 30303-13422

(2)        Email comments will be received until May 10, 2011:
            chbolds@dhr.state.ga.us

(3)        Facsimile comments will be received until May 10, 2011:
State BCW Office Fax: (404-657-2878)

(4)        In Person verbal comments at a Public Hearing

DCH invites interested persons to attend Public Hearings and present public comments.  To allow an opportunity for all to be heard, comments will be limited to five minutes.

Written, email, and facsimile comments will be received until, May 10, 2010 and should be sent to:

Chase Bolds, Babies Can't Wait Program Manager
2 Peachtree Street NW, #11-112
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-14322

Email:  chbolds@dhr.state.ga.us

Facsimile:  (404) 657-2878

More information about Georgia's BCW early intervention program is available at (http://health.state.ga.us/programs/bcw).

Dates and Locations for Public Hearings:

District            Date/Time       Location          BCW Contact

1-2  Dalton

            April 12, 2011

4:30 PM - 7:00 PM          Whitfield County Health Department

800 Professional Blvd
Dalton, GA 30720

(706) 279-9600           Debbie Coleman

(770) 272-2219

3-4 Gwinnett/ESNG

            April 14, 2011

4:30 PM - 7:00 PM           Five Forks
2780 Five Forks Trickum Road
Lawrenceville, GA 30044

(770) 822-9115           Donna Davidson/EIC

(770) 822-9115

4 LaGrange

            April 12, 2011  4:30 PM - 7:00 PM           Emergency Preparedness Conference Room

District 4 Health Services
122 Gordon Commercial Drive

Suite A
LaGrange, GA 30240

(706) 298-7740           Phyllis Turner/EIC

(706) 845-4035 (ext. 238)

Valdosta

            April 14, 2011

4:30 PM - 7:00PM       Babies Can't Wait Office

206 S. Patterson Street

P.O. Box 1027

Valdosta, GA 31603

(229) 245-6565

            Judy ThrelkeldEIC

(229) 245-6565

9-1 Savannah  April 14, 2011

5:00PM-

7:30PM            Chatham County Health Department

1395 Eisenhower Drive

Savannah, GA 31406

(912) 356-2441           Beleta  Lockwood/EIC

(912) 691-6888

10 Athens        April 12, 2011

4:30PM-

7:00PM            Clarke County Health Depart

ment

345 N. Harris Street

Athens, GA 30601       Ruth Newcomb/EIC

(706) 369-6105