Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Services for Children Birth to 3 years

What is Early Intervention?

Early intervention helps to figure out a child’s developmental needs and understand your goals for your child. They provide services and support  at home or in your child-care setting.

What are the possible services?

Physical, occupational, speech therapy, special/developmental instruction, feeding therapy, nutrition, hearing therapy, vision therapy, behavioral consultation and therapy, and social work services.

How do I find Early Intervention?

Call CONNECT at 1-800-692-7288 to find an Early Intervention provider near you.

• Philadelphia: Infants Toddlers Early Intervention 215-685-4646 if your child is under 2 years 10 months

• New Jersey: Early Intervention 1-888-653-4463

• Delaware: Child Development Watch 1-800-671-0050 (New Castle County) 1-800-752-9393 (Kent/Sussex County)

• Maryland: Infants and Toddlers Program 410-767-0238

• New York: 1-518-473-7016

If you prefer, a healthcare provider or developmental specialist can make the first call for you. If your child is in the hospital, the call should be made as close as possible to the time you plan to take your child home.

Next steps:

A service coordinator will talk with you and listen to your concerns. They will set up a time to come and meet with you and your child.

Multi-disciplinary evaluation (MDE): Staff from EI will evaluate your child. This can occur at home, in child care or virtually. If your child needs help, services will be started. Learning, language, motor, and social-emotional development is assessed during the MDE.

An individualized family services plan (IFSP) will be written together with you. This plan lists the goals for your child and the therapies that will be provided to help them reach these goals. You can decide if you want services in your home or somewhere else.

In order for therapies to work, your therapist must be a good fit for you and your child. If you don’t feel that you and the therapist are a good match, ask your service coordinator for a new therapist.

You should always understand the goals a therapist is working on with your child. The therapist should give you activities to work on with your child until the next session. These activities are how the real changes happen for your child!

How long does early intervention last?

A new IFSP plan is written every year. There may be new goals, or your child may graduate from the services. When your child turns 2 ½ years old, EI will help you transition to preschool services if needed. Your county or school district will provide these services.

What if I disagree with the services that are offered?

• Talk with your service coordinator. Ask for a new IFSP.

• Talk with the social worker or healthcare provider at your primary care site.

• Call Parent Education Network (1-800-522-5827) or CONNECT (1-800-692-7288)

• If you have tried to work with your EI providers and service coordinator but your child’s needs are not being met, each state has a dispute resolution process or educational law center that can help you.

Reviewed August 2024 by Marsha Gerdes, PhD; Sherita Williams MS, PHMA, Casey Hoffman, PhD