Carbon-Monroe-Pike Mental Health and Developmental Services

Early Intervention (EI) consists of services and supports designed to help families with children who have developmental delays. While all children grow and change at their own rate, some children can experience delays in their development. Sometimes this can be a cause for concern. Early Intervention provides supports and services to young children and their families/caregivers to help the child grow and develop.

Infants and toddlers, birth to three, who have a developmental delay or diagnosis are eligible to receive services. Early Intervention (EI) supports and services are provided at no cost to families.

Early Intervention (EI) supports and services are provided at no cost to families. EI services may include: information on how children develop skills and abilities; education and support for the parent/caregiver, and specific developmental therapies designed for their child. Early Intervention provides ideas for how a family can help their child at home as well as in the community, and is individualized to enhance both growth and learning. Early Intervention can also assist families in finding and linking to a variety of community services and supports.

Examples of supports and services are as follows:

• Evaluation
  • Procedures used by qualified professional to determine a child’s initial and continuing eligibility for Early Intervention services.
• IFSP - Individual Family Service Plan
  • A written plan including goals, Early Intervention services, and strategies for a child’s family/caregivers to assist the child in overcoming developmental delays. 
• Occupational Therapy
  • Services to address the needs of an infant or toddler in the functions of daily living. It focuses on coordination of movement and self-help skills such as dressing, eating and sensory concerns.
• Physical Therapy
  • Services to address the sensorimotor function of an infant or toddler with a disability through enhancement of motor development or restoration of strength and movement.
• Speech Therapy
  • Provision of services to enhance both expressive and receptive communication skills. It may also include assistance with oral motor skills, feeding disorders, and referral to medical or other professional services necessary outside of Early Intervention services.
• Service Coordination
  • Activities carried out by a service coordinator to assist the child and the child’s family to benefit from their rights and procedural safeguards, to coordinate the services that are authorized, to monitor the child’s progress, and to provide community resources.
• Special Instruction
  • Activities that promote the acquisition of skills by a child with a developmental delay in a variety of developmental areas, including cognitive processes and social interaction. Working with the family of an infant or toddler with a deniability to enhance the child’s development.
  • Hearing Services - Services that address deafness or hearing loss of an infant or toddler. It may include incorporating sign language or using a communication device. It also may include referral for medical or other services necessary for the habilitation or rehabilitation of hearing loss
  • Vision Services - Services to address specific visual disorders, delays and abilities. Communication skills training, orientation and mobility training for all natural environments. It may include referral for medical or other professional services necessary for the habilitation or rehabilitation of visual functioning disorders.

Services are provided in the child’s natural environment; that is, a setting where children without a disability participate. Examples include the child’s home, child care center, preschool, playground and Early Head Start programs.

 

A first step for a family with a concern about their child’s development is to call (570) 420-1900, ext. 3723. The Early Intervention program will determine if the child is eligible for Early Intervention.