Infant / Toddler

For children from birth to three years that have a delay or disability, Pennsylvania provides a collection of early intervention services and supports. The importance of early intervention is well established. Quality early intervention services can ameliorate the delays and challenges that some young learners experience, and help the family enhance the child's growth and development. It is a process that promotes collaboration among parents, early intervention providers, childcare providers, and others in the community who are involved with the child.

The early intervention program for children from birth to three years old is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), and is operated through County Mental Health/Mental Retardation programs. The county program contracts with local agencies to ensure that families have access to a service coordinator and a choice of service providers.

Eligibility for early intervention services is determined through the multidisciplinary evaluation (MDE). In addition to considering eligibility for services, the MDE investigates parent concerns and looks at all areas of the child's development. Service delivery in early intervention builds upon the natural learning occurring in a child's early years, and uses routines-based strategies to promote a child's development in natural environments. Services are individualized to each child and family, are based on family-identified outcomes, and may include services by a variety of professionals. Outcomes and services are delineated on the child and family's program plan, called the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).

The PA Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA) system, which is a part of the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network, supports early intervention programs through staff professional development and family informational services.