Early Intervention

Who We Are

The Office of Early Intervention (EI) provides evidence-based coaching supports & services to infants/toddlers (birth to age 3) and their families when children are experiencing a developmental delay or have a diagnosis that results in developmental delay.

The supports and services are at no cost to eligible infants, toddlers, and their families. The Office of Early Intervention is part of a statewide Early Intervention system under the direction of the state Bureau of Early Intervention, Office of Child Development and Early Learning.

What We Do

Early Intervention provides coaching supports to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their caregivers so that they may help their children grow and develop.

Coaching is embedded within a child’s existing typical routines, within the home and community activities or Early Childhood Education programs.

Early Intervention service personnel work collaboratively with the family, caregivers and each other to provide culturally responsive, family prioritized, coordinated and flexible coaching supports.

Early Intervention coaching supports integrate all aspects of child development and learning from first contacts through transitions between and among Early Childhood Education programs.

The primary role of Early Intervention service personnel/providers is to coach and support the family members, caregivers and Early Childhood Education professionals in a child’s life.

Coaching:

A triadic, interactive process of observation, instruction, and reflection.

Designed to strengthen and increase knowledge and skills that lead to family member, caregiver or early childhood educator’s confidence and competence to support improved outcomes for children using evidence- based practices in everyday activities and routines.

The supports and services are individualized based upon the priorities and outcomes identified by the family. Children learn from everyday interactions with familiar people, places, experiences, and routines.

Early Intervention services are provided to children from birth to 3 years of age in the child’s natural environment including the playground, the library, and/or the childcare center.

Services We Provide

Early Intervention provides Screening

Evaluation and Assessment to determine eligibility and when eligible for Early Intervention, infants, toddlers, and families in collaboration with professionals develop an individualized family service plan (IFSP) that outlines the family's concerns, priorities, and child's interests and activities.

Supports and resources are then identified to assist the family in enhancing their child's learning and development.

We provide services that address child development in:

Physical development

Speech and language development

Social and emotional development

Adaptive development

Cognitive development

Children age birth to 3 are eligible for services if they have:

25% delay in one or more area of development

A specialist’s determination that there is a delay not measured by available assessments, and the delay results in functional limitations of the child’s daily activity

Known physical or mental conditions which have a high probability for eligible developmental delays

Children not eligible may qualify for follow-up tracking. Children eligible for tracking are:

Birth weight under 1500 grams (about 3½ pounds)

Cared for in neonatal intensive care units, or born to chemically dependent mothers

Seriously abused or neglected (substantiated)

Confirmed to have dangerous levels of lead poisoning.

Service Coordination:

Delaware County Early Intervention Service Coordinators follow a "dedicated model", meaning that service coordination is their only role.

Early intervention service coordination is a mandated service under Part C of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), provided at no cost to families.

Service coordination is defined as an active, ongoing process that assists and enables families to access services and assures their rights and procedural safeguards.

Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC)

How To Make A Referral

Office of Early Intervention
610-713-2406
9:00am – 4:00pm
Connect Hotline: 800-692-7288

Physician Office/Provider Agency referral: OEIFax@delcohsa.org