Resources & Materials
Early Intervention
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About Early Intervention Services
Early intervention is an array of supports and services that promote opportunities for parents to enhance their capacity in raising their child with developmental delays/disabilities. Specifically, parents/caregivers are taught how to support their child to help him/her grow. Early intervention works best when it is part of a family/child's daily routine and activities and when it occurs in the context of the child and family's everyday life. Supports and services provided to children and their families/caregivers use a variety of early intervention approaches. Decisions about which approach to use is based on the kind of support a child needs to learn and achieve an outcome.
Approaches could include but are not limited to coaching, direct instruction, and consultation and collaboration. Early intervention services could include, but are not limited to:
Special instruction
Assistive technology
Speech and language
Audiology services
Occupational and physical therapy
Vision services
Services are based upon a team decision regarding what is most likely to meet the needs of the child and family at this point in time. Service changes are based in the child's progress and team consensus about service needs. Service needs adapt to the progress the child makes.
Early Intervention Tracking is available for children who meet the criteria. Once enrolled in Tracking, the Service Coordinator meets with the family at set intervals to complete an Ages and Stages Questionnaire. The Service Coordinator also provides the family with developmental information and suggestions that the family can try with the child between Tracking visits.
Early Intervention Service Coordination begins at the time of the referral. The Service Coordinator guides the family through eligibility determination. Once the child is determined eligible for services and a plan is written, the Service Coordinator continues in monitoring service delivery, progress and ensures that the plan is kept updated. The Service Coordinator also assists the family with accessing other community programs and agencies and provides information about community resources and activities. The Service Coordinator will also guide the family through a transition process planning for what will happen when the child turns 3.
Initial Home Visit
After the initial phone referral, the service coordinator arranges an appointment with the family to discuss early intervention services and gather pertinent information about the child. A multidisciplinary evaluation (MDE) is then arranged with the independent evaluator under contract with CMSU. The initial MDE is used to determine the child's eligibility for early intervention services based on criteria established by the Commonwealth.
Eligibility
Early intervention services are available to infants and toddlers, from birth to age three, who have a significant delay (25% of chronological age) in one or more areas of development, or have a high probability for developmental delays based on known physical or mental conditions. Eligibility is based on delays in the following developmental areas using whole domain scores:
Physical development-child's ability to move, use finger skills, see and hear
Language and speech development - child’s ability to understand language and ability to talk or express need
Social and emotional development - child's ability to relate to others
Self-help (adapted) - child's ability to eat, dress, and take care of themselves
Cognitive development - child's ability to think and learn
If a child is not eligible for early intervention, he or she may be eligible for follow-up tracking. Children eligible for that service are:
Experiencing homelessness
Under three and one half pounds in birth weight
cared for in neonatal intensive care unit
affected by illegal substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure
confirmed abuse or neglect
confirmed levels of lead poisoning
After Eligibility is Determined
Once a child's eligibility for early intervention has been determined, the service coordinator works with the family and other early intervention team members on developing a written plan detailing family's concerns and priorities, strategies and ideas, and the early intervention services and supports to be received; all decisions are made by the team. The Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is the foundation of family-centered early intervention services. An on-going relationship develops between the service coordinator and the family. The service coordinator meets regularly with the family to assess the family's level of satisfaction with services, monitor service outcomes and quality, and provide information on community resources. Services mostly commonly used to support families include special instruction (regular, vision, hearing), speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy.
For children enrolled in Tracking, the Service Coordinator meets with the family at set intervals to complete an Ages and Stages Questionnaire. The results are reviewed with the family and developmental information is provided to the family along with suggestions that they can try with the child between Tracking visits.
How do I access Early Intervention Services?
Interested in making a referral about early intervention?
Anyone interested in making a referral or a general inquiry about early intervention for a child less than 33 months of age should contact the CMSU office at (570) 275-6080 or 1-800-451-9720. Contact can also be made by emailing cmsudss@cmsu.org. Referrals can also be made by calling CONNECT (statewide directory for early intervention) at 1-800-692-7288. For children within 60 days of turning 3, the caller may contact Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit at (570) 523-1155, extension 2229 with the referral information.
When making a referral, you will be asked to provide basic information about the child. This information will include:
• Name of child
• Parents’/legal guardian’s name
• Address including county of residence
• Date of birth
• Child's Social Security Number and/or Medical Assistance Number (if applicable)
• Living situation (Does the child live with parents, grandparents, other relatives or is in foster care? If child is in foster care, additional contact information will be needed.)
• Reason for referral - What concerns you about the child's development?
• Review of any completed developmental evaluations - Was the child recently evaluated? Does the child currently receive early intervention services? Are there other agencies involved?
