EARLY INTERVENTION

Early Intervention is the term used to describe services and support available to babies and young children with developmental delays and disabilities and their families. These publicly funded programs are available in every state and territory; and are free or at reduced cost for eligible children.

What are the goals of EI services?

EI services are designed to achieve four goals for your child:

-To enhance development and minimize potential for developmental delay;

-To reduce the need for special education and related services once school aged;

-To maximize the likelihood of leading a full and productive life included in the community; and

-To enhance your family’s ability to meet your child’s needs.

Who’s eligible?

Infants and toddlers from birth through age 2 are eligible to receive EI services if they are delayed by 25% or more as measured by appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures in their cognitive, physical, communicative, social, emotional or adaptive development, or if they have a diagnosis of a physical and/or medical condition that will likely result in developmental delay.

What type of EI services are available?

EI services may include:

-assistive technology

-audiology

-family training, counseling and home visits

-medical services (diagnostics and evaluation purposes)

-nursing services

-nutrition services

-occupational therapy

-physical therapy

-service coordination

-social work services

-specialized instruction

-speech-language pathology

-transportation and related costs

-vision services

Early Intervention Contact Information by State

Español (Spanish)

Alabama

Alabama’s Early Intervention System
(800) 543-3098 (English)
(866) 450-2838 (Spanish)

California

Early Start
(800) 515-2229

Colorado

Early Intervention Colorado
(888) 777-4041

Connecticut

Birth to Three Program
(800) 505-7000

Delaware

Birth To Three
(800) 671-0050: New Castle County
(800) 752-9393: Kent/Sussex County

Florida

Early Steps
(800) 218-0001

Georgia

Babies Can’t Wait
(800) 229-2038

Hawaii

Early Intervention Section
(808) 594-0066 or (800) 235-5477

Idaho

Infant Toddler Program (ITP)
(800) 926-2588 or dial 2-1-1

Illinois

Illinois Early Intervention Program
(800) 323-4769

Indiana

First Steps
(800) 545-7763

Iowa

Early ACCESS
(888) 425-4371

Kansas

Infant Toddler Program
(800) 332-6262 or (785) 296-6135

Kentucky

First Steps
(877) 417-8377

Louisiana

Early Steps
(866) 327-5978

Maine

Child Developmental Services
(877) 770-8883

Maryland

Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program
(800) 535-0182

Massachusetts

Family TIES
(800) 905-8437

Michigan

Early On
(800) 327-5966

Minnesota

Help Me Grow
(866) 693-4769

Mississippi

First Steps
(800) 451-3903

Missouri

First Steps
(866) 583-2392

Montana

Early Intervention Program
(406) 444-5647

Nebraska

Early Development Network (EDN)
(888) 806-6287

Nevada

Early Intervention Services
(800) 522-0066

New Hampshire

Family Centered Early Supports & Services
(800) 852-3345, ext. 5034 or (603) 271-5034

New Jersey

New Jersey Early Intervention System (NJEIS)
(888) 653-4463

New Mexico

Family Infant Toddler Program
(866) 696-1472

New York

New York State Early Intervention Program (EIP)
(800) 522-5006 or (518) 473-7016

North Carolina

North Carolina Infant-Toddler Program (ITP)
(919) 707-5520

North Dakota

Early Intervention Program
(800) 755-8529 or (701) 328-8930

Ohio

Help Me Grow
(800) 755-4769

Oklahoma

SoonerStart
(405) 271-8333

Oregon

Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Ed
(503) 947-5731

Pennsylvania

Early Intervention
(800) 692-7288

Rhode Island

Early Intervention Program
(401) 270-0101

South Carolina

BabyNet
(877) 621-0865

South Dakota

Birth to Three
(800) 305-3064

Tennessee

Tennessee’s Early Intervention System (TEIS)
(800) 852-7157

Texas

Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)
(877) 787-8999

Utah

Baby Watch
(800) 961-4226

Vermont

Early Intervention Services for Infants and Toddlers
(800) 649-2642

Virginia

Infant Toddler Connection of Virginia
(800) 234-1448

Washington

Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT)
(800) 322-2588

West Virginia

Birth to Three
(866) 321-4728

Wisconsin

Birth to 3 Program
(800) 642-7837

Wyoming

Early Intervention and Education Program Unit
(307) 777-7115

District of Columbia

Strong Start
(202) 727-3665

Puerto Rico

Early Intervention
(787) 765-2929 ext. 4550, 4557 ó 4598
(Spanish only)

Guam

Guam Early Intervention System (GEIS)
(671) 300-5776 or (671) 300-5816

American Samoa

Helping Hands
ruth.teo@helpinghands-as.org
(684) 633-8553 or (684) 633-8435 (fax)

United States Virgin Islands

The Infants and Toddlers Program
(340) 777-8804 ext 2629 (St. Thomas)
(340) 773-1311 ext 3124 (St. Croix)

Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands

Early Intervention Services
(670) 483-3903 or (670) 664-4841

Source: Contact List | Center for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC. http://www.cdc.gov.