Early Intervention Part C Program
- What is Early Intervention?
- The Family and Early Intervention Partnership
- The Medical Home and Early Intervention Partnership
- Early Intervention Program from Birth - 3
- What Types of Services Will Be Provided?
- Who Is Eligible for the Early Intervention Program?
- The Referral and Evaluation Process
- The IFSP
- Where Are Services Provided?
- Funding of Services
- Additional Early Services
What is Early Intervention?
The Family and Early Intervention Partnership
The Medical Home and Early Intervention Partnership

Early Intervention Program from Birth - 3

What Types of Services Will Be Provided?
Who Is Eligible for the Early Intervention Program?
The Referral and Evaluation Process
The IFSP
Where Are Services Provided?
Funding of Services
- Child Find and Referral: Early Intervention programs locate infants and toddlers who may have disabilities and evaluate them for eligibility for Early Intervention.
- Assessment and Evaluation: Formal testing is done to determine if the infant or toddler has a disability.
- Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP) Development and Review: The IFSP describes the Early Intervention services that the family and child will receive.
- Procedural Safeguards (Family Rights): Families receive a document that describes the protections and legal rights provided by the IDEA law.
- Service Coordination: Staff at Early Intervention programs help families determine their needs and access services to reach their goals.
Additional Early Services
Resources
Information & Support
For Parents and Patients
Center for Parent Information & Resources Locator
Parent Centers are for families with a child who has a disability, as well as the professionals who work with them.
Special Education Services for Preschoolers with Disabilities (NICHCY)
Services for preschool children (ages 3 through 5) are provided free of charge through the public school system. These services
are available through the same law—the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act—that makes available: early intervention
services (Part C of IDEA), and services for school-age children, in grades K through 12 (Part B of IDEA) .
State Part C Early Intervention Coordinators
Lists state contacts for Early Intervention (Part C) agencies offered by the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance
Center (ECTA Center).
Talaris Child Development Timeline
An interactive timeline with developmental milestones in different areas including physical, social, learning, and communication.
Learn the Signs. Act Early (CDC)
Tools, videos, lists, and learning materials to track a child’s development (ages 2 months to 5 years) and act if concerned
about progress; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
IFSP form (Individual Family Service Plan) ( 224 KB)
Sample Individual Family Service Plan.
Medical Summary ( 18 KB)
This sample summary or individual health plan provides a way to keep track of personal contact information, diagnoses, problems,
medications, immunizations, providers, specialists, medical equipment, and more.
IDEA97 compared to IDEA04
Comparison of IDEA 97 legislation to 2004 changes.
Bright Futures Initiative (AAP)
A national health promotion initiative dedicated to the principle that every child deserves to be healthy and that optimal
health involves a trusting relationship between the health professional, child, family, and community as partners in health
practice. Information on healthy emotional, behavioral and cognitive development; American Academy of Pediatrics.
Healthy Minds, from Zero to Three
Created by the National Center For Infants, Toddlers and Families. Here you will find PDF handouts about development.
First Signs
A national nonprofit organization dedicated to educating parents and pediatric professionals about the early warning signs
of autism and other developmental disorders. Includes developmental milestones, red flags, and communication needs of parents
and physicians.
IDEA All About It
A website is full of information about IDEA. Summaries of IDEA’s requirements, which shape what school systems do; IDEA itself—to
read IDEA’s exact words; guidance on IDEA from the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education;
and training materials on IDEA. IDEA Part B (ages 3-21) and Part C (ages birth-3). A legacy resource from NICHCY, now with
the Center for Parent Information and Resources.
IDEA-related Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Terms
From the U.S. Department of Education, alphabetically listed acronyms related to IDEA.
IDEA Parent Guide (National Center for Learning Disabilities) ( 1.1 MB)
A comprehensive guide for parents on rights and responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA
2004). Helps parents determine if their child might be eligible for services, what kind of services to expect, how to request
an evaluation, how to develop a plan for services, and what their legal rights are.
IDEA State Eligibility
From the U.S. Department of Education, definitions of terms and rules for IDEA Part B (Assistance for Education of All Children
with Disabilities).
A parent's guide to Section 504 in public schools
An article addressing basic qustions pertaining to the implementation of Section 504 in public school systems. GreatKids for
special needs, with GreatSchools.org.
Rhode Island Early Intervention Program ( 405 KB)
Early Intervention (EI) is a program designed to help families support the growth and development of their infants and toddlers,
birth through 3, who are delayed in their development or have a diagnosed condition known to cause developmental delay. Providers
and RI Parent Information Network. 2016
Services
Early Intervention for Children with Disabilities/Delays
See all Early Intervention for Children with Disabilities/Delays services providers (13) in our database.
Head Start/Early Head Start
See all Head Start/Early Head Start services providers (6) in our database.
For other services related to this condition, browse our Services categories or search our database.
Helpful Articles
Reynolds AJ, Temple JA, Robertson DL, Mann EA.
Long-term effects of an early childhood intervention on educational achievement and juvenile arrest: A 15-year follow-up of
low-income children in public schools.
JAMA.
2001;285(18):2339-46.
PubMed abstract
Committee on Children with Disabilties.
Developmental surveillance and screening of infants and young children.
Pediatrics.
2001;108(1):192-6.
PubMed abstract / Full Text
This article encourages physicians to use standardized developmental screening tools and suggests that testing children at
periodic intervals will increase accuracy and further early intervention.
Authors
Authors: | Alfred Romeo, RN, Ph.D. - 5/2013 Gina Pola-Money - 5/2013 Lynne M. Kerr, MD, PhD - 5/2013 |
Page Bibliography
Committee on Children With Disabilities.
Role of the pediatrician in family-centered early intervention services.
Pediatrics.
2001;107(5):1155-7.
PubMed abstract / Full Text