July 17, 2023

We will be holding a Lunch and Learn for families to learn all about the TEIS Extended Option and ask questions! This family-focused presentation will be on July 19th from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CST. The information to join is below. 

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 289 705 760 811
Passcode: ACbhr7

EIRA Agencies  

When completing invoices for payment each month, please include the date the invoice was signed. The date of service does not serve as the date the invoice was signed.  

As we approach the end of the fiscal year, please be sure all invoices have been sent to TEIS.Invoices@tn.gov.  Invoices should be submitted no later than 60 days from the month of service. For example, May invoices should be submitted no later than July.   

The deadline to submit Annual Reports is September 30, 2023. A template for the annual report can be found here: https://bit.ly/3MfALXw. Information on what should be provided in the annual report can be found in your contract. 

New invoicing workbooks for FY 23-24 are anticipated to be sent to each EIRA before August 15, 2023.  

Vendor Agencies  

When completing claims for payment, please include the date the claim was signed. The date of service does not serve as the date the invoice was signed. 

The State of Tennessee is conducting end-of-year procedures for fiscal year 2023 starting July 1, 2023. This is a customary year-end closing procedure. As of July 1, 2023, invoices for fiscal year 2023 will not be able to be processed for payment until mid-July 2023. Please read below for information specific to your contract type.  

Early Intervention Resource Agencies (EIRAs) and other contracts except vendors under contract #60327: May and earlier invoices should have been submitted in June. Payment process stopped for year-end closing on July 1. June invoices will be processed in July 2023 once payment processes resume. Please do not submit a partial invoice for June. One invoice for June with all appropriate expenditures should be submitted no later than August 31, 2023.  

Vendors under contract #60327: Please continue to submit billing to the Fiscal Services Team using TEIS.Invoices@tn.gov. All billing will continue to be processed as normal. Agencies will receive an invoice report for May 1–31, 2023. Agencies will also receive an invoice report for June 1-30, 2023; however, this invoice report will be delayed for processing due to year-end closing.  

End-of-year processes should not affect invoices or invoice reports for July 2023. 

Click here to watch previous TEIS Provider Office Hours recordings.

Thank you to our providers who were able to join us for the TEIS Extended Option provider presentation. If you missed it, the slides and link to the presentation recording can be found on our TEIS Extended Option webpage: https://www.tn.gov/didd/for-consumers/tennessee-early-intervention-system-teis/extended-services.html 

The next TEIS Provider Office Hours is Wednesday, August 16th at 10 a.m. Pre-submit questions to Carly.Carlton@tn.gov by Monday, August 14th.    

Click here to join the meeting 

We are excited to resume Coffee Breaks in August! We have an exciting series planned featuring Dr. Dana Childress, who will be sharing insights on Early Intervention Leadership through an Adult Learning Lens. The series will span six weeks. We are currently adjusting our scheduling to ensure that the sessions are held consecutively. Keep an eye out for upcoming dates as we finalize the details and prepare to deliver this valuable learning experience. Get ready to expand your knowledge and enhance your skills in Early Intervention Leadership! 

The Provider Guidance Manual is now available! A comprehensive resource designed to offer detailed information and guidance to all Early Intervention Service Providers can be found on our TEIS Community Resources webpage. This manual serves as a working document to support providers in their crucial role. To access the manual, please click on the link below. 

TEIS Community Resources 

The Provider Guidance Manual Overview for Early Intervention Service Providers course is available in Relias and is approximately 1 hour in length. It will provide the learner with a general understanding of the information outlined in the Provider Guidance Manual. It contains the high points related to the daily tasks of Early Intervention Resource Agencies, Vendors, and Eligibility Evaluation Agencies. This course was developed by the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS) Staff and Provider Engagement Team.  

It is that time of year again for all agencies who contract with DIDD to provide services to fill out the annual Title VI Self Survey [including but not limited to providers of 1915(c) waiver services, TEIS, Katie Beckett, ICF/IID homes, MAPs, etc.]. 

The Title VI Self-Survey can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/e0arsa7jpl492lo/2023%20Title_VI_Self_Survey_.pdf?dl=0.

The 2023 Title VI Self-Survey covers data for the period of July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023.

Beginning July 1st, 2023, please return the completed Title VI Self Survey to both DIDD.OCR@tn.gov and Simone.Cuarino@tn.gov by August 1, 2023. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Seth.Wilson@tn.gov.   

Documentation for Early Intervention Service Providers: This course covers the basics of documentation including why it is important to the work of early intervention service providers. This lesson targets all early intervention service providers: Eligibility Evaluation Agencies, Early Intervention Resource Agencies, and Vendors.     

Estimated Duration: 45 minutes   

TEIS Progress Toward Goals for Staff and Providers: The Progress Toward Goals form is a tool used to facilitate discussion surrounding goals for Six Month and Annual IFSP Reviews. The purpose of this training is to provide information on how to use the Progress Toward Goals form and discuss the roles of each member of the IFSP team.  This course was developed by the TEIS Staff and Provider Engagement Team.   

Estimated Duration: 30 minutes   

Frequently Used Jargon and Acronyms in Early Intervention: The use of acronyms and jargon is common in most professions. Early Intervention is no exception. In this course, we will define frequently used acronyms and terms used within TEIS to help newly hired staff. We will also offer friendly reminders for seasoned staff and providers to avoid using jargon and acronyms with families. This is important in goal writing and during conversations with parents.   

Estimated Duration: 15 minutes  

Check out our YouTube playlist of TEIS Professional Development videos here. 

Join us for our next Lunch and Learn: All Things Hearing - An Overview of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program on July 26th from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CST. This informative session will provide an overview of the Newborn Hearing Follow-Up program and delve into the topic of hearing loss. Our esteemed presenters will include Holli Allen, the Newborn Hearing Follow-Up Program Director, Dr. Brittany Day, a Contracted Audiologist for the Newborn Hearing Follow-Up Program, and Charles Lechner, an Epidemiologist specializing in Newborn Hearing Follow-Up. 

During this Lunch and Learn, you will gain valuable insights into hearing loss diagnoses and learn about the specialized services required for children diagnosed with hearing loss. 

Click here to join the meeting 
Meeting ID: 266 314 428 94  
Passcode: xXoHNw 

Holli Allen, B.A. is the Program Director for the Tennessee Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program. Her professional experience includes care coordination for families with special health care needs and federal grant management. Holli holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Tennessee at Martin and a graduate certification in Health Care Management from East Tennessee State University. 

Brittany Day, AuD, CCC-A is a pediatric audiologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and is the Audiology Consultant to the Tennessee EHDI program. Her clinical experience includes early hearing detection and intervention, electrophysiologic evaluation and management of medically complex infants and children, pediatric diagnostics and rehabilitation, and educational audiology. She previously directed the Inpatient Pediatric Audiology and Newborn Hearing Screening clinical programs at VUMC. Currently, she conducts research in the area of newborn hearing and is pursuing a Master of Public Health in Healthcare Management. Brittany volunteers as the Tennessee Professional Mentor for the Student Academy of Audiology State Ambassador Program and as Clinical Director of the Tennessee Special Olympics Healthy Hearing and Young Athlete Pediatric Screening programs. 

Charles Lechner joined the Newborn Hearing Follow Up Program within the TN Department of Health in February 2023 as an epidemiologist. Prior to this position, he was an Association of Public Health Laboratories Data Analytics Fellow stationed within the TN Newborn Screening Program for a year and a half. His background is in bioinformatics, and he is passionate about using technology and data to better the lives of others, especially within the fields of neonatology and pediatrics. 

We are excited to announce our upcoming August Lunch and Learn session titled "Creating Connections in the Childcare Setting" on August 23rd from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CST.

During this session, we will delve into the importance of establishing strong relationships and partnerships with childcare professionals while delivering early intervention services in a childcare setting. We will explore best practices and ideas to foster positive and collaborative relationships, as well as strategies for involving families effectively.  Get ready to gain valuable insights and practical strategies for creating meaningful connections in the childcare setting. Our presenter for this session is Jessica Beaver.  

Jessica Beaver is the Program Manager for the Therapy & Learning Center who values dedication, family relationships and excellence.  She believes in practical approaches driven by family priorities to build communication, connection, and confidence.  Jessica mentors with passion, guiding others to effectively strengthen and elevate their practices.

With over twenty years of training experience, leadership, and inclusion, Jessica brings a unique perspective to building relationships across childcare and early intervention.  Jessica earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from East Tennessee State University. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with family cheering on her daughter at the University of Central Arkansas Softball. 

Just over a year ago, Sunshine Early Intervention was a small agency of only six Early Interventionists serving children in just one county in East Tennessee. Today, Sunshine has expanded to 16 Early Interventionists now serving seven counties across East Tennessee! 

Sunshine Early Intervention provides support and resources to help families optimize their children’s development through everyday learning opportunities in their natural environments. The Early Interventionists at Sunshine strive to build close relationships with families, always acknowledging their unique perspectives which helps their child receive the individualized support they need. Parents learn to trust the Early Interventionists and can become vulnerable in moments of coaching. This helps the team achieve their common goal of helping each child reach his or her optimal development.  

Parents of children receiving services at Sunshine also have the added opportunity of connecting with other families in the program. Sunshine helps families connect to share their experiences and build friendships with others walking similar paths with their children. 

A new tool on the Tennessee Disability Pathfinder website is available to connect Tennesseans with disabilities to technology!

Tennessee Tech Connect (TN Tech Connect) is a collaborative program between Pathfinder and DIDD. It was developed as an online resource, in partnership with providers, to connect Tennesseans with disabilities to technology that can support increased independence and improve access to communities.

Learn more today! Read the full press release from the TN Disability Pathfinder at this link: https://compass.vkcsites.org/tennessee-disability.../

East Tennessee State University is conducting a research study involving early interventionists’ knowledge, experiences, and perceptions of working with infants, children, and families with and without prenatal substance exposure.  

Early interventionists with experience working with infants and toddlers (0-3 years old) in the State of Tennessee can participate in the study. Participants will receive a $10 gift card for completing an online survey via Qualtrics which should take about 20 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary. 

Click here to learn more and take the survey. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to the research team. 

Allie Chroust, PhD  
Assistant Professor  
Department of Psychology  
East Tennessee State University  
chroust@etsu.edu  

Kara Boynewicz, PhD, PT, DPT, ATC  
Board Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist (ABPTS) 
Assistant Professor  
Department of Physical Therapy  
East Tennessee State University  
boynewicz@etsu.edu  

Kim Hale, PhD  
Director, Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning and Development  
Associate Professor  
Clemmer College of Education  
East Tennessee State University  
halekd@etsu.edu   

Do you have a story you would like to share with the TEIS community? Send your newsletter ideas to Carly Carlton at Carly.Carlton@tn.gov.