EARLY INTERVENTION (EI)

The Early Intervention Program provides therapy and special education services to children ages birth to 3 with qualifying developmental delays and/or diagnosed disabilities.

Services include things such as speech therapy, special instruction, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.

Anyone can make a referral to the EI Program with parent agreement. EI is a voluntary program. Service Coordinators provide case management.

An evaluation team comprised of at least two professionals, one who evaluates overall development and one specializing in the child’s area of delay, assess the child in their natural environment.

If the child is determined eligible, an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) is developed with the parents within 45 days from the date of referral to discuss EI services that might help the child reach his or her developmental goals. Meetings are held every six months to review these goals and/or revise the plan.

The EI Program also provides individual therapy services to the child and parent teaching in their natural environment. Individual therapists and provider agencies are approved by the State of New York State Department of Health Bureau of Early Intervention.

Local Early Intervention Council Committee (LEICC) meetings are held 2- 3 times per year to discuss issues in Early Intervention.

Parental input is most essential to this program.

CHILD FIND PROGRAM

The Child Find Program was developed to identify at-risk children at an early age for physical and developmental disabilities in order to provide services as soon as possible through the Early Intervention Program.

The main goal of the program is to assure all children have health insurance and a physician to provide well child care including developmental assessments.

Families are provided with information on typically developing peers and given activities on what they can do to work with their child.

Public Health Community Guide for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS (CYSHCN) PROGRAM

The Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program seeks to improve the system of care for children with special health care needs from birth to 21 years of age and their families.

Children served by the CYSHCN Program have an illness or condition for which they need extra health care and support services. These children might have a serious or long-lasting physical condition, intellectual or developmental disability; and/or behavioral or emotional condition.

This program is strictly a referral program. Services include information about health insurance, community resources, specialists and accessing health care providers.

We also work with families to help them meet the medical and non-medical needs of their children.

PRESCHOOL EDUCATION 3-5

At age 3, children who are receiving Early Intervention Services may be transitioned to the Preschool 3-5 Program.

This program is mandated by New York State Department of Education and administered through the school district. An annual Committee on Preschool Education (CPSE) meeting is held for each child who qualifies at the home school district and an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed to guide the child’s education during the school year.

Parents that are concerned with their child’s development between 3-5 can refer their child to their local school district CPSE. Parents are the only referral source for this program. A meeting may be held in the interim as the child’s needs indicate.

For a child that qualifies for the program, discussion on where services will take place, with consideration of least restrictive environment, will occur at the initial CPSE meeting.

The services generally follow a school calendar, however, a six-week summer program is available for severely delayed children to prevent substantial regression of their skills.

Fulton County Public Health administers payment to therapists who provide services in the child’s home or daycare, to center-based schools, and to bus companies.

Call your local school district for more information.