Early Intervention: What it is and why it works

Early intervention services provide a range of different services to help children catch up developmentally and reach their milestones.  An IFSP (Individual Family Service Plan) will be developed to help target these specific goals and services that will help both the child and the family.

Early intervention services are provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and services in California are coordinated though Regional Centers early start program.  These services are provided free of charge to all children who qualify.

In California, Early intervention is for infants and toddlers birth to age 3 who show a 25% delay in their development or to those who have a specific health condition that may lead to a delay, such as extreme prematurity, chromosomal disorders, drug exposure or other environmental factors.

Anyone, including day care providers, grandparents, foster parents or yourself can make a referral to Regional Center if you feel it could be beneficial to the child.

Infants and toddlers may receive services at home or in a clinic setting to help a child with development in the following areas:

• Physical skills (both small and large muscles, such as grasping, reaching, stacking, crawling, walking)
• Cognitive skills (problem solving, advanced learning and thinking)
• Communication skills (both understanding and speaking words, including pointing, saying words and combining words and gestures together)
• Self-help skills (sleeping, eating, dressing)
• Social and emotional skills (interaction with others, playing with toys, imaginative play)
• Sensory processing skills (reacting to different textures, tastes, sounds, smells)

A child who qualifies for an early intervention program may receive one or more of the following services:

• Screening and assessment(s)
• Home visits with an early intervention specialist
• Speech and language therapy
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy