Philadelphia Interagency Coordinating Council:
A collaboration of Families,
Early Intervention Providers and,
Early Childhood Community Agencies,
(PICC)
The Philadelphia Interagency Coordinating Council (PICC) is
a group of parents and professionals who work together to ensure that all
children and families in need of early intervention services are identified and
receive the needed services.
The PICC’s purpose is to offer comments and suggestions on
the development of local services and supports for children and their families.
The Pennsylvania Early Intervention Services Systems Act* mandated that the
entities giving oversight to Early Intervention Services in each state and county
establish and operate a Local Interagency Coordination Council (LICC) as
a way for local families, service providers and agency representatives to share
information, work together, and ensure the availability of quality early
intervention services. In Philadelphia County those entities are the Office of Mental
Retardation Services (early intervention services for children ages birth -3) and
Elwyn Inc. (early intervention services for children 3-5).
*Early Intervention Services Systems Act 212 is the
Pennsylvania law passed in 1990 that entitles all eligible infants, toddlers,
preschoolers and their families to early intervention. Eligible children include
those who demonstrate a 25% or more delay in one or more areas of development,
or who have been diagnosed with certain other conditions.
Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in
ALL meetings. Family members, early intervention professionals and other children’s agencies
are a vital part of the PICC. Families and professionals, in partnership, have been involved from
the start of the PICC in providing leadership and direction. Family members are supported to
participate in PICC activities through partial reimbursement of child care and transportation costs.
- To share your ideas
- To meet other parents and early intervention service providers
- To connect with other child serving agencies in Philadelphia County that may
be serving other families in early intervention
- To learn about other resources for children receiving early intervention and their
families
- To make an impact on the Early Intervention system in Philadelphia County and the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- To learn where and how to resolve individual concerns
- To learn how to resolve important concerns parents or service providers may have
Contact one of the PICC Co-Chairs for date, time and location of specific
committee meetings.
is a one day empowerment training for families.
Call 215-204-1772 for more information and to register.
Ellen Braun, Professional
Early Intervention Program Director
Northeast Community Center for MH/MR
Northeast Growth and Development Centers
900 E. Howell Street
Philadelphia, PA 19149
215-831-3053
ellenb@nemhmr.org
Michelle Hamilton
Michelle_lynnhamilton@yahoo.com
Shawna Sidibe
Program Director
RHD/Early Intervention Program
90 Rochelly Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19128
215-508-5800 EXT 135
215-508-3212 FAX
shawnas@rhd.org
Jennifer Fischer
PICC Assistant
215-731-2464
philadelphiaicc@yahoo.com
Early
Intervention Directors
Birth to
Three
Philadelphia Mental Retardation Services
Denise Taylor Patterson
(215)
685-5905
Preschool (Three to Five)
Elwyn, Inc.
Su Axelrod
(215) 222-4760
"If you are a parent who wants to be in the know,
you need to attend the PICC."
"I’ve found that the parents and professionals who
devote time to the PICC, its workgroups and meetings, usually become the
catalysts and the doers that make the connections that start the changes the
Early Intervention needs to truly meet the needs of children and
families."
"The PICC has given me the opportunity to network
with other professionals working with children with special need and helped to
keep me updated on resources in Philadelphia."
"The PICC is a place for parents to come for
information and to share their issues and
ideas."
Last Updated: October 5, 2005 MMM