What is Early Intervention?
Early intervention is used to describe support, resources and services available for youth experiencing development delays and disabilities (CDC). Early Intervention is not only for the individual but also the family. Services can include therapy, learning support, special education or any other resources specific to the child’s needs. It includes cognitive, physical, communication, social/emotional, and self-help (parentcenterhub).
How do you know if a child is eligible?
Eligibility is based on evaluations done by physicians and it differs state to state, this link provides state by state information https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/parents/states.html. The CDC also provides a “Milestone” resource for behavioral and developmental for children at certain ages, https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html. This resource highlights ages 2 months to 5 years, and it indicates at what level a child should be functioning by age. The CDC has also come up with a “Milestone tracker” app that allows you to keep track of your child’s behavior and provide information on how to progress development.
Why is it important?
Early Intervention is more effective when provided earlier in life. Baby’s brains are most impressionable in the first three years of its life (CDC). As your child continues to grow and develop, their service plan changes. An early intervention plan will begin with an IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) and then transitions to and IEP (Individualized Education Program) when an individual reaches an age closer to education.
IFSP and IEP
An IFSP is based on an assessment and it includes information regarding your child’s current developmental state, the goals and outcomes of the individual and family and the resources and services they receive to accomplish the goals and outcomes outlined (CDC). An IFSP is typically applicable for ages birth to 3 yrs. Timelines and goals are used to track development in an IFSP. Additionally, services can be provided in many settings, including in-home care. The team that makes up an IFSP typically includes a parent/guardian, a service coordinator, and the physician who conducts the assessments of the child (PACER).
An IEP is for anyone from the ages 3 to 21, and it focuses on special education and services provided through schooling. An IEP is not as broad as an IFSP in terms of services, but it allows for the child to keep up with the general curriculum in a school setting with some additional help. An IEP also tracks progress through goals and assessment. IEP’s allow for children to receive services in least restrictive environments. The IEP team is composed of a parent/guardian, a regular education teacher, a special education teacher, a representative from the school district to help allocate resources, and a person responsible for assessing progress (PACER).
https://www.pacer.org/parent/php/PHP-c59.pdf.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3083071/
