FAQ

Find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about early intervention. Just click on a question below to reveal the answer associated with it.

What is Early Intervention (EI)?

What does the EI program do?

How is Early Intervention helpful?

Who is eligible for Early Intervention?

What are the steps to Early Intervention?

What services are offered?

Who provides the services?

Who pays for the services?

How do I learn more about Early Intervention?

What is Early Intervention (EI)?

Early Intervention is a program for children under 3 who have developmental delays, disabilities, or are in at-risk conditions for developmental delays.

What does the EI program do?

At no charge, the EI program will test infants and toddlers to see if they have a delay in:

Movement
Learning
Dealing with others
Behavior
Self-help skills

How is Early Intervention helpful?

EI may help provide your child the best start in life, prevent or reduce the need for more intervention in the future, and reduce related costs.

Who is eligible for Early Intervention?

Children under the age of 3 who:

Are experiencing developmental delays in any of the following areas:
- Cognitive development (learning)
- Physical development, including vision and hearing
- Language and speech development
- Social or emotional development (behavior)
- Adaptive development (use of existing skills)
Have been diagnosed with certain physical or mental conditions (such as cerebral palsy or Down syndrome)
Have certain family circumstances that put them at risk of substantial delays, such as:
- A parent diagnosed with a developmental disability
- A parent diagnosed with a severe mental disorder
- Any three of the following:
- Primary caregiver abuses alcohol or other substances
- Primary caregiver is younger than 15
- Child is homeless
- Chronic illness of the primary caregiver
- Mother abused alcohol or other substances during pregnancy
- Primary caregiver has an education level less than the 10th grade, unless that level is appropriate to the primary caregiver’s age
- Evidence of abuse or neglect and the child has not been removed from those circumstances

What are the steps to Early Intervention?

Referral to Child and Family Connections (CFC) office
Intake completed by a CFC service coordinator
Evaluation (to determine eligibility) and ASSESSMENT
Development of an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)
Parent consent for services
Services provided to your child
IFSP review every six months, or more frequently if needed
Transition to a program for 3- to 5-year-old children

What services are offered?

Early intervention provides these services:

Assistive technology devices and services
Early identification screening and assessment
Family training, counseling and home visits
Health services that allow your child to benefit from the other early intervention services
Medical services (only for diagnosis or evaluation)
Nursing services
Nutrition services
Occupational therapy
Physical therapy
Psychological services
Service coordination
Social work services
Special instruction/developmental therapy
Speech language pathology and audiology
Transportation and related costs
Vision services

Who provides the services?

Early Intervention services are available through providers who have met state qualification requirements and service standards. Examples include the following:

Special educators (developmental therapists)
Speech/language pathologists and audiologists
Occupational therapists
Physical therapists
Psychologists
Social workers
Nurses
Dietitian nutritionists
Family therapists
Orientation and mobility specialists
Pediatricians and other physicians
Optometrists

Who pays for the services?

Government agencies and and families pay for services. The cost of evaluation, assessment and development of a service plan, and the cost of service coordination, are paid by the program and provided to families at no cost. Ongoing Early Intervention services are paid for by the family’s health insurance, when appropriate, government insurance (AllKids), and EI program funds. Your family contribution is based on your income.

How do I learn more about Early Intervention?

Children and families receive Early Intervention services through one of 25 regional Child and Family Connections (CFCs). To find a local CFC, call 800-323-4769. Also, please visit our Early Intervention Resources page where we have fact sheets you can download.