The purpose of the planning team is to provide the mechanism for planning and assisting with the implementation of the Nebraska Early Intervention Act (Sections 43-2501 through 2516, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, 1943) and to serve in an ongoing advisory capacity regarding the implementation of the act in Region No. 18.  The team is committed to the development of a process that provides family centered and family guided services to young children with disabilities and their families.  To accomplish this mission, the following goals must be reached: Support and enhance families' abilities to use their unique family strengths in order to access the appropriate services for their child(ren) with special needs; Identify the needs of families of children with disabilities as they relate to the child's development by seeking current input from families; Facilitate the development of interagency collaboration for the purpose of providing services to families of children with disabilities as they identify their needs; Facilitate the development of a system for sharing information, resources, personnel and advocacy in order to provide appropriate services to families and their children. The Planning Region Team is an organized group of parents, advocates and representatives from school districts, agencies, educational services units, Head Start, child care, and other relevant persons or agencies responsible for assisting in the planning and implementation of the Early Development Act in each local community or region. They: Discuss issues of regional concern related to service for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. Make recommendations/provide feedback to local agencies regarding the provision of early development services in the region. Identify the potential lead agency to provide systems support for the region. Work with the Services Coordinators to identify gaps and duplications in the resources in region. Identify the training and technical assistance needs in the region for administrators, direct providers and families involved in the provision or receipt of early development services. Identify the resources that may be shared, adjusted or developed in the region to address the gaps and duplications in services. Work on ChildFind and public awareness to identify infants and toddlers in the region. criffle@lincoln.ne.gov            revised 1/08