What is Child Find?

Child Find is a process required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to identify, locate, and evaluate all children from birth through 21 years of age who may have disabilities and may need early intervention or special education services. It is an ongoing process of public awareness activities and evaluations to ensure children with special needs can receive the help they need

to succeed as early as possible.

Child Find Request

Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team meets with the family

No testing                        Multidisciplinary needed                Evaluation

How are children identified and located?

Anyone concerned about a child’s speech, learning, behavior, or development can make a Child Find request. A multidisciplinary evaluation team will meet with the family within 14 days to decide if an evaluation is needed. If so, written permission from the child’s parent is required before an evaluation is conducted.

Who should I contact about making a Child Find request? For a child birth through two years, contact your local Health Dept.

For a child three to twenty-one years, contact your local school district.

What should I bring to the meeting to determine if a multidisciplinary evaluation is necessary?

Although you do not have to bring anything with you, any records or information you have that can assist you in describing your concerns about your child would be helpful.

What is a multidisciplinary evaluation?

A multidisciplinary evaluation will involve a series of observations and tests with the child and interviews with caregivers conducted by two or more specialists such as a speech language pathologist, a school psychologist, or a special educator. A written summary of this evaluation will be provided to the family and a meeting will be held to determine if the child needs special services.

For more information contact pamelaself@cantonschools.net   Phone: (601)859-2179                                                    Fax: (601)855-2511    Canton Public School District 403 E. Lincoln Street, Canton, MS 39046