South Carolina Interagency Coordinating Council
Overview…
The legislation for infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities and their families, Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), calls for a comprehensive statewide system of coordinated early intervention services. Legislators, parents, and practitioners recognized that infants and toddlers with disabilities require a range of services which cannot be provided entirely by a single agency. In South Carolina, the IDEA Part C system is called BabyNet and the Lead Agency is the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). IDEA legislation requires a group outside the Lead Agency to "advise and assist" in the development and maintenance of the early intervention system. This is the role of the Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) who's members are appointed by the Governor. The ICC in South Carolina is called the South Carolina Interagency Coordinating Council (SCICC). The SCICC is an important participant in the development of a well coordinated interagency service delivery system. The SCICC is an independent group that "does not belong to" any particular agency.
Mission...
The mission of the SCICC is to enhance the development of South Carolina's eligible infants and toddlers with disabilities through collaboration among families, agencies and providers in order to promote an effective early intervention system.
Purpose...
The SCICC shall advise and assist the Lead Agency (DHEC) in developing a comprehensive interagency system to provide early intervention services for all eligible infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.
Membership...
The SCICC is composed of:
- 20 percent parents, including minority parents, of children with disabilities aged 12 or younger;
- At least 20 percent public or private providers of early intervention services;
- At least 1 member of the state legislature;
- At least one member representing personnel preparation;
- At least one member from each of the state agencies involved in the provision of, or payment for, early intervention services;
- At least one member from the Department of Education;
- At least one member from the Department of Insurance;
- At least one member representing Head Start;
- At least one member from the state agency representing child care;
- Other members selected by the Governor. The composition for membership facilitates is the building of bridges between public and private providers and families and providers.
SCICC Committees...
The SCICC does the majority of its work through committees. There are five standing committees forces that report to the SCICC. They include:
- Executive Committee - The Executive Committee shall be composed of the SCICC Officers, the immediate Past Chairperson, the SCICC chairperson of each standing committee, and a parent SCICC member. This committee shall serve in an advisory capacity to the SCICC. It shall appoint standing and ad hoc committees as needed and is responsible for monitoring and evaluating general SCICC functioning.
- Legislative Committee - The Legislative Committee shall identify relevant issues and advise and assist the Lead Agency with the continuing need for informing the legislature of progress in implementing a statewide system for early intervention services and needs for new developments in the early intervention services.
- Services Committee - The Services committee shall provide assistance in monitoring an efficient and effective service delivery for South Carolina's system of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities.
- Finance Committee - The Finance Committee shall be responsible for addressing financial issues associated with the early intervention system.
- Personnel Committee - The Personnel Committee shall be composed of agency representatives, the Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) Task Force, parents, Task Force co-chairs, and Teaming for Early Childhood Education (TECS) representatives. This committee shall advise and assist the SCICC and the Lead Agency on current personnel issues related to South Carolina's system of early intervention for infants and toddlers with disabilities.
Meetings…
SCICC meetings are held quarterly from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Meetings are open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend. Dates and times are subject to change so please contact the contact number listed below to confirm.
Contact...
For additional information, please contact the SCICC Executive Director at (803) 898-0428.
Written correspondence can be sent to…
SCICC
DHEC/BabyNet
1751 Calhoun Street
Columbia, SC 29201