Early childhood therapists across New York are saying a new policy for background checks is preventing them from fulfilling legally-binding treatment plans.
The regulation went into effect in September. But the state didn’t hold a public hearing on it and a public comment period ended Monday.
The new policy affects speech therapists, physical therapists, and other therapists. They say the problem is with the state Office of Children and Family Services. The policy requires anyone working at a licensed childcare center to have a background check.
Therapists agree that the background checks are important. They already get checks through state and local agencies. But the Office of Children and Family Services won’t recognize them and won’t let them get the new ones.
Gretchen Jacobs says therapists are required to follow a specific treatment plan with students, referred to as IEPs, Individual Education Plans. They can’t do that if they aren’t allowed to take a child out of a busy classroom for a session.
Jacobs is the director of early childhood centers for Racker, which specifically works with children with developmental needs. She’s also a speech therapist.
"It is interfering and affecting therapists with being compliant with children’s IEPs," Jacobs said.
No one from the Office of Children and Family Services would speak to WSKG. In a statement they said they are aware of the problem and working on a response.