Making a difference: LPS early intervention programs key to student success

September 13, 2024

Laura Baumgartner’s library-sized talents are helping local children like C.J., Killian and Jaeden experience bright moments as Lincoln Public Schools Early Childhood early intervention program graduates.
 
Baumgartner, a LPS early intervention special education teacher, is part of a team of educators who are making a difference for local infants and toddlers. LPS early childhood staff provide free early intervention services for more than 600 eligible children (ages birth to 3) each year. They also evaluate more than 1,400 infants and toddlers to determine if they are eligible for the program.
 
Baumgartner, a ten-year LPS veteran, said the early intervention services give children a strong start in life.
 
“I think it’s critical,” Baumgartner said. “Studies show that when you intervene early and often, the long-term progress for children is way better than it would be if you had no intervention prior to kindergarten. We are very sad to see children later showing up in kindergarten and needing help or support. We really want to catch those kids early and be able to support them prior to kindergarten. Their long-term trajectory is much better.”
 
Mother Katherine has watched those success stories play out with three of her children. Baumgartner has worked with Jaeden, 5, Killian, 5, and C.J., 3, during in-home visits. Katherine smiled as she recalled the many ways Baumgartner has assisted the family over the past three and a half years.
 
“Having somebody there to help you navigate all that is wonderful,” Katherine said. “We absolutely love Miss Laura. She is a rock star to us.”
 
The early intervention program serves children from ages birth to three who live within LPS boundaries. Teachers and specialists work with students who are showing either moderate or significant delays in any of the key areas of early childhood development: expressive communication (what they say), receptive communication (what they understand), self-help skills, social-emotional development and fine and gross motor skills.
 
Lincoln residents who are concerned about a child’s development can refer a family to the LPS Early Childhood’s early intervention program. Referrals often come from a family, childcare provider or hospital, but anyone in the community can make a request.
 
“They do a lot of work to try to get the word out to physicians, to childcare facilities, so people understand that you can make a referral,” Baumgartner said. “The parent might not decide to go with the evaluation, because it is voluntary, but we really want to get as many referrals in as we can.”
 
After receiving the referral, service coordinators with the LPS Early Development Network contact families to obtain consent to evaluate their child. If families agree to have a free evaluation, teachers like Baumgartner will make in-home visits. If they determine the child is eligible for services, they will join forces with occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists and hearing and vision specialists to create an individualized family service plan.
 
Baumgartner said every effort is made to help children and families in their natural environment. In many cases, this is the home or apartment that the family lives in. Teachers can also travel to community childcare or daycare facilities if the child spends a majority of time there.
 
“When we talk about natural environment, a lot of times we’re talking about after 5 o’clock, because parents work all day,” Baumgartner said. “We don’t want to penalize them and not provide support to the parents, so we’re doing late afternoon and some evening visits to make sure that happens.”
 
Katherine said that level of care has been critical for Jaeden, Killian and C.J., who have all since moved from the early intervention program into preschool. Baumgartner visited several times each month and provided Katherine with a wide array of supportive strategies for addressing developmental delays.
 
For example, if Katherine was reading books with her children, Baumgartner would point to a picture in the book and say a word that described that object. She and Katherine would then ask them to repeat the word to work on their speech development. They would also make sensory boxes with Cheerios, practice sharing skills in a playroom and work on motor development by setting up toilet paper rolls for miniature bowling.
 
“Having that extra resource of help with my kids has just been phenomenal,” Katherine said. “If I could constantly keep Laura, I would definitely keep her.”
 
Baumgartner praised Katherine for trying new developmental tips. She said her willingness to follow the coaching suggestions on a daily basis have boosted the growth of all three children.
 
“It’s very flexible,” Baumgartner said. “Every visit the parent helps decide what strategy they want to work on, and we as professionals talk them through that ahead of time. Then, they do the strategy. They practice it.”
 
LPS Director of Early Childhood Cara Lucas-Richt said approximately 200 students successfully transition from early intervention programs to preschool classes each August. Children also join preschool at other points during the year. They enter the LPS buildings with newfound confidence in their social, emotional and academic abilities. LPS offers early intervention services all throughout the year, even when school is out of session. 
 
Katherine said it has been rewarding to spend time with LPS professionals who have helped place Jaeden, Killian and C.J. on an upward path in life.
 
“Everybody I’ve worked with here has been absolutely wonderful,” Katherine said. “They’ve been kind.”
 
If you have questions about your child’s development, you can call the LPS Early Childhood Department at 402-436-1920 or visit our website at https://home.lps.org/earlychildhood to learn more about the department’s services. 

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