Early Intervention Serves Children Birth to Age 3
Learn more about becoming part of Early Intervention
Early Intervention (EI) is for infants and toddlers from birth to age three who have a medical diagnosis or developmental delay, and for families who are concerned about a child’s development. Early Intervention can address all types of concerns, including:
- Vision
- Hearing
- Feeding
- Speech delays
- Physical development like crawling or walking
- Social interaction like playing with other children
We know that children learn best through play and everyday experiences with the people they love. You can expect your EI services to support your child where you live, play and spend your day. This means your services will take place during the day-to-day activities that are important to your family in places like your home, child care center, babysitter’s home, local park, or any other agreed upon community sites. The Henry county EI team of professionals is here to help you every step of the way with your child’s learning and development.
Your Child’s team will include:
- The Parent/Caregiver
- Service Coordinator (SC)
- Occupational Therapist (OT)
- Physical Therapist (PT)
- Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP)
- Developmental Specialist (DS)
- Vision Specialist
- Hearing Specialist
- Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant
THE EARLIER YOU REFER A CHILD, THE BETTER.
Research shows that starting intervention services early gives a child the best chance to learn and grow, and early support can reduce the need for services later in life. There is no need to “wait and see.”
If you are concerned that your child is not meeting developmental milestones, such as speech, mobility or behavior, or your child has been diagnosed with a developmental disability such as Down Syndrome, Autism or a genetic condition, please contact Ohio Early Intervention to get started.
Anyone can refer a child to Early Intervention and the process is simple. If you have concerns about your child’s development, act early and make a referral by calling, 419-665-3322 or click this link to complete a short form; https://odhgateway.odh.ohio.gov/ochids/public/refer
CONCERNED ABOUT AUTISM?
Our EI Team collaborates with the Center for Child Development to complete a multi-factored evaluation and assessment. This project is targeted for children 18 months to age 3.
The PLAY Project
The PLAY Project™ is a parent implemented, intensive early intervention program for young children with autism that is evidence-based.
The PLAY Project is delivered by parents, using their relationship and knowledge of their child to promote engagement. Our expert coach—a certified PLAY Project Consultant—helps parents engage with their often hard-to-engage child in a way that is fun, and promotes the next stages of social-emotional learning. PLAY Project families experience the joy of seeing their child make progress first hand. PLAY meets the criteria for ‘intensity’—providing 10-15 hours of intervention per week— because once families learn the principles, methods, techniques, and activities of the PLAY Project they can make every interaction throughout the day a good interaction. PLAY is available to eligible families in the Early Intervention Program.