DDRS Update: First Steps staff announcement and shared vision and goals

​Today the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) sent the following announcement: First Steps staff announcement and shared vision and goals.

First Steps is excited to announce the addition of two new staff members to our team. Meghan Smith is the new First Steps policy manager and comes to First Steps from the Family and Social Services Administrations’ Office of Early Childhood and Out of School Learning. Meghan’s background is in public administration and early childhood policy, and her knowledge and experience will be tremendously helpful as we review, revise and develop rules and policies for the First Steps system. 

​Connie Young is the new First Steps outreach manager and comes to First Steps most recently from the Joseph Maley Foundation. Connie has more than 20 years of experience in early childhood care and education, including nine years as a developmental therapist for First Steps in central Indiana. Her knowledge and experience will be exceptionally valuable as we address issues related to provider recruitment, retention and training.

In light of our team’s expansion, Maggie McCall’s role has also been redefined. She will be taking on the role of quality assurance manager. Maggie will be working with our data collection contractors as well as our System Points of Entry and Provider Agencies to ensure that First Steps continues to thrive as well as improve the services we provide to children and their families. Please join me in congratulating Maggie on her new role and in welcoming Meghan and Connie to our team!

As our team grows, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to review the First Steps system and identify areas for potential change and positive growth. The purpose of this announcement is to share with you our desire to collaborate on a shared vision and goals to guide our future work together. The role of the Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) and its subcommittees is to advise the state on the maintenance and continuous quality improvement of the First Steps
system, and we believe that adopting a shared vision and goals is essential to working together to improve services and outcomes for the children and families we serve.

In order to accomplish this, we need to begin brainstorming. It is critically important to us that all interested stakeholders have a voice in this process. We ask that all ICC subcommittees add this conversation to their upcoming meeting agenda(s) so that the ICC can begin its conversations around this topic in May using subcommittee feedback. Subcommittee chairs will be provided guidance on the type of feedback we are requesting. If you are not currently participating in an ICC subcommittee and are interested in joining us for these conversations, please contact me at Christina.Commons@fssa.in.gov. 

We hope you find this information helpful. If you have any questions, please contact the INARF office.