Project Child Find

North Carolina has a continuing Child Find procedure in place to locate all children with disabilities residing in the State, including children with disabilities attending private schools, regardless of the severity of their disability, and who are in need of special education and related services. This effort also includes highly mobile children with disabilities (such as migrant and homeless children) and children who are suspected of being a child with a disability and in need of special education. The purpose of this procedure is to enhance public understanding of exceptional children and youth with special needs, to identify and locate the children and youth, and to inform the public of available services. The collection and use of data to meet the requirements of Child Find are subject to the confidentiality requirements.

To make Child Find a success, it is important that local education agencies (LEAs) work with the medical community and agencies providing services to children, including health departments, social service agencies, local management entities for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services and Children’s Developmental Service Agencies. Other community programs should also be involved such as area services for the blind and deaf, child care programs, developmental day centers, Head Start programs and private/parochial schools.