1.    The department may establish an early childhood inclusion support services program for providers that provide care for children with disabilities, special needs, or developmental delays. The early childhood inclusion support services program may offer direct payments and technical assistance to:

a.    Support the staffing needs to expand the ability to care for children with disabilities, special needs, or developmental delays; and

b.    Assist in modifying or adapting the early childhood services setting as needed to address the health, safety, and developmental needs of children with disabilities, special needs, or developmental delays.

2.    The department may fund early childhood services specialists to make available technical assistance to providers that care for children with disabilities, special needs, or developmental delays. The technical assistance program must be designed to:

a.    Assist providers that request support and information regarding caring for children with disabilities, special needs, or developmental delays; b.    Assist providers in adapting the program environment and care practices to meet the individual child’s needs and to build the providers’ capacity to serve children with disabilities, special needs, or developmental delays; c.    In partnership with the child’s parents and health care provider, assist the provider in the development or coordination of care plans for children with disabilities, special needs, or developmental delays relevant to the care setting; d.    In partnership with the child’s parents, foster communication with the team of specialists serving the child to ensure consistency in therapy practices and appropriate approaches; e.    Provide classroom training to providers to assist the providers in the integration of children with disabilities, special needs, or developmental delays; and

f.    As requested by the providers, conduct one-on-one training at the provider’s premises to assist the provider in the integration of children with disabilities, special needs, or developmental delays.

3.    To be eligible for the early childhood inclusion support services program, the provider must:

a.    Be a licensed early childhood program or self-declared; b.    Collaborate with service providers that provide formal supports to the child or children with disabilities, special needs, or developmental delays; and

c.    Work with the child’s family and an inclusion or health specialist to complete a care plan appropriate for the child care setting.

4.    For purposes of this section, a child with special needs includes any child in this state between the ages of birth through twelve years who receives support through either public or private disability-related services and support and includes a child who is in the process of being evaluated for public or private disability-related services and support. A child with special needs includes a child who is at risk for developmental delays including any child between the ages of birth through twelve years who received foster care services; who has a previous substantiated history as a victim of child abuse, neglect, or domestic violence; who is homeless; who has documented special health care needs; or who has a parent with a significant disability.

5.    The department may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source to assist the department in the establishment and implementation of the early childhood services inclusion support services program. Any gifts, grants, and donations received are appropriated to the department on a continuing basis for the purpose of funding the early childhood services inclusion support services program under this section.

6.    The requirements of chapter 54-44.4 do not apply to the selection of a recipient, award, or payments made under this section.