Follow-up shows improvement in BabyNet

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — State auditors say South Carolina’s program for infants and toddlers with disabilities has shown improvement, but performance evaluations of BabyNet’s providers continue to lag.

The Legislative Audit Council also noted in Tuesday’s report that BabyNet remains in federal “needs intervention” status for at least the fourth consecutive year. The program is a joint state-federal effort to identify and provide services to children with developmental delays. First Steps has run it since 2010.

The auditing agency found First Steps implemented 11 of the 21 recommendations issued in its 2011 report and partially implemented six others.

First Steps Director Susan DeVenny says the review shows BabyNet has come a long way since her agency inherited it, and it should soon be in federal compliance for the first time since its 1994 creation.