EI Quick Facts
Fact Sheet
Children’s Services – Early Intervention
Population Served
Services are provided to children birth to age 3 and their families who have been found eligible to receive Early Intervention Services through the Summit DD Board.
Settings
Early Intervention services and supports can take place in a variety of locations including the family home, child care center, the babysitter’s home or other agreed-upon community sites, based on family needs.
Hours of Services
Services are typically provided between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m but can change based on the needs of the family.
Days of Services
Services are provided daily Monday through Friday.
Frequency of Services
This is a mutual agreement between the family and the early intervention specialist.
Payer Sources
Services are funded through local levy dollars.
Fees
There are no out-of-pocket fees to participate in the Early Intervention program.
Referral Sources
Screenings for early intervention services are referred through Help Me Grow, a non-profit agency that provides services to promote growth and development and support families during the important early years of a child’s life. All families interested in services for children birth to 3-years-old should contact Help Me Grow at 330-376-7273.
Specific Services Offered
Early Intervention Specialists meet regularly with parents to aid them in determining what their concerns and priorities are for their child and family. They work together with families to develop strategies that can be used during everyday routines and activities. Child and family outcomes and strategies are “family centered” and are intended to fit naturally into a family’s existing daily schedule.
In addition to consultative support from other professionals such as speech therapists, physical/occupational therapists and vision specialists, early intervention specialists can assist you in accessing services for infants and toddlers in your community. These group activities provide wonderful opportunities for relationship-building for parents as well as toddlers.
The family’s early intervention specialist will work to coordinate and integrate information from all other professionals on the team so that parents and providers are comfortable and confident in the specific things they can do to enhance their child’s growth and development. This important aspect of Early Intervention is based on scientific evidence that very young children learn best in their natural environments and during the kind of activities that can be practiced daily and consistently. Therefore, parents and care providers are the most important “interventionists” in an infant's or toddler's life!
Entry Criteria
Person Served:
1. Meets Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities Early Intervention eligibility
requirements.
2. Child must be between the ages birth to 3 years old.
Transition Criteria
When the child is age 2-½ the family, Early Intervention Specialist, and Help Me Grow Service Coordinator will begin the transition to school aged services
Exit Criteria
Person-Served:
1. Is no longer eligible for Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities Early Intervention services
2. Turns 3 years old
3. Parent Choice
4. Transfers to an alternative program service.
Expected Outcomes
Child will transition into an appropriate community setting.