what is Child Find

Each district is required to have a child find process to inform the public and to identify children ages 3 to 21 who may be eligible to receive special education services. The RFSD District Child Find Assessment Team is a district level team that provides quality, child focused screenings and evaluations for children ages 3-5 and supports building level teams for students in grades K-12. Evaluation referrals come from a variety of sources including: families, community agencies, child care, preschools, medical providers and school staff. The School District of residence for any child ages 3 through 21 is required to “Child Find” students who may have an educational disability as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act.

Child Find services are provided at no cost to families.

How child find works

At Roaring Fork Schools, our Child Find program is here to support young children’s development and ensure they get the services they need to thrive. Here’s how the process works:

  • Referral Received When we receive a referral, our Child Find team gets to work reviewing your child’s needs.
  • Family Contact & Consent We reach out to families to explain the process and obtain consent for participation. Your input and permission are essential every step of the way.
  • Developmental Screenings Together, families and our Child Find team complete developmental screenings. This helps us understand your child’s strengths and areas where support may be needed.
  • Special Education Evaluation (if needed) If screenings suggest additional support might be helpful, we may recommend a formal Special Education evaluation. Parents must provide consent before this step.
  • Eligibility & Individualized Education Plan (IEP) If your child qualifies for Special Education services, our team will develop an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) tailored to your child’s unique needs.
  • Inclusive Preschool Services All Special Education services are provided in an inclusive preschool classroom, allowing children to learn and grow alongside their peers.

We’re here to partner with families every step of the way, ensuring that each child has the support they need to succeed.

Families Access to all

Private School and Homeschool families also have access to Child Find through the Roaring Fork School District Special Education Department. You can contact Shalynn Chavira at smeraz@Rfschools.com or (970)384-7910 to get more information about this process.

Referrals

Referrals to Child Find can be from any source, including medical providers, home visitation programs, friends and family,  private and public preschools (e.g., Head Start), and community-based childcare programs. Parental consent is not required for referral. However, parents involvement is required throughout the process.