(PSS) — For two days this week, Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho joined a team of Early Intervention Program personnel led by their director, Robin L. Palacios, for an outreach to Rota, and successfully signed up over 20 families who will avail themselves early detection services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays at no cost.
The “Child Find and Public Awareness” activities of the PSS Early Intervention Program were held on April 22 and 23 on Rota. Twenty-four families signed up, the biggest number yet for Rota in recent years.
The activities included a screening outreach for parents, infants and toddlers at the Rota Aging Center that was aimed at early detection of developmental disabilities. A separate team conducted home visitations in Sinapalo, the largest of the two residential villages on Rota.
With Director Palacios was her team of Early Intervention special instruction teachers, a physical therapist, an advocate, and other personnel. They are Jonisa Sanchez, Peter Mendiola, Aljay Figueroa, Nace Soalablai and Esther Tilipao.
The Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation sent a three-person team to join the outreach activities: Dolores Itibus, Ezeth Smith, and Bessie Hernandez.
The PSS Early Intervention Program has a working partnership agreement with CHCC, particularly in the referral program for children with developmental disabilities from birth to three years old.
Rota Health Center partnership
Commissioner of Education Dr. Camacho, Early Intervention Director Palacios, and Special Instruction Teacher Peter Mendiola met with Rota Health Center Resident Director Vanessa Quitugua as part of the two-day “Child Find and Public Awareness” outreach.
Resident Director Quitugua, a former educator, acknowledged the success of the EI Program on Rota. She credited the partnership between CHCC/Rota Health Center and the PSS Early Intervention Program that led to encouraging more parents and family to sign up for the free programs and services offered by the school district.
The PSS EI Program and CHCC partnership has been in place for over two decades now.
Resident Director Quitugua noted the “change, growth, and movement of families availing themselves of the Early Intervention Program services on Rota.”
She added, “We see there is that need to serve our community together as partners, and as partners, we provide whatever critical services our community needs, including our infants and toddlers.”
Director Palacios agrees. “What we have is really working. We are to serve and will continue to serve and work with your community,” she added.
“The entire Early Intervention team has a full schedule to serve our Rota families. To further increase our service, we are going to hold outreach twice a year,” she said.
Commissioner of Education Camacho said the PSS EI Program cannot do it alone. It needs partners to succeed. “To our medical professionals, our parents here on Rota trust you because of your expertise in your field. When they come to you [through the Early Intervention Program] it is because they see your expertise.”
“Thank you for your partnership and thank you for helping us in our service to our children and students. We hope to be able to encourage more parents to sign up for the program,” the commissioner added.
On behalf of the EI Program, he also expressed his appreciation to the Rota Office on Aging, through Administrative Officer Valerie Apatang, for supporting the program’s outreach on Rota.
At the Rota Mayor’s Office
Commissioner Camacho, Early Intervention Program Director Palacios and her team also met with Rota’s municipal officials.
“We are truly happy that you all came down to make sure our children and families are served,” said acting Mayor Jim Atalig, the chair of the Rota Municipal Council.
“Thank you for taking care of the children of our small community,” he added.
Mayor Aubry Hocog’s chief of staff, Dean Reynold Manglona, praised the PSS leadership for ensuring that no child is left behind on Rota.
“It is really encouraging to know that the commissioner of education is leading these outreach activities for our children and students. It only goes to show someone who is passionate about public education,” Manglona said.
IDEA
In 1986, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was amended to include early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families, otherwise known as Part C of IDEA.
Eligible infants and toddlers include children, from birth to three years old, who are born with an established condition that has a high probability of resulting in a disability; or children with developmental delays.
Early intervention services are provided to the child and family at no cost and are designed to meet their unique needs.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, Early Intervention Program Director Robin L. Palacios and a team of Early Intervention Program specialists visit a home in Sinapalo Rota, to encourage a family to sign up and avail themselves of free program services.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho is introduced by Rota Health Center Resident Director Vanessa Quitugua to Kitione Vukunisaga, a dental therapist. Resident Director Quitugua told Commissioner Camacho that they are providing free dental services to first, second and sixth graders.
The Early Intervention Program team led by Director Robin L. Palacios, left, and Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, center, at the Rota Aging Center pose for a photo while displaying brochures, flyers and other educational materials about the program.
At the Rota Office on Aging, specialists from the PSS Early Intervention Program talk to parents who walked in to sign up for free early detection program services.
Early Intervention Program Director Robin L. Palacios, left, speaks during a meeting with Commonwealth Healthcare Corp./Rota Health Center Resident Director Vanessa Quitugua, second left, Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, third left, and Rota Health Center personnel.
Acting Rota Mayor Jim Atalig, fourth right, and chief of staff Dean Reynold Manglona, third left, pose for a photo with Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, Early Intervention Program Director Robin L. Palacios and some of her team members.
On behalf of the Public School System, Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho expressed his appreciation to the municipality of Rota’s continued support to the Early Intervention Program and the school district.
