Toddler in a standing device high-fiving Developmental Specialist Melissa seated next to him

Early Intervention

Summit DD’s Early Intervention Services for Children 0-3

Early Intervention (EI) services are based on the principle that children learn best through everyday experiences with people they know, making YOU your child’s best teacher. With Summit DD, there’s team of professionals to help you every step of the way with your child’s learning and development.

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Your team will consist of a Service Coordinator (SC), a Primary Service Provider (PSP) from Summit DD, and a team of early childhood professionals. Depending on the unique needs of your family, the person you will see most could be a Developmental Specialist, a Speech-Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, or Physical Therapist. No matter who you see, remember your team is working together behind the scenes to give you the tools and strategies you and your child need to be successful.

Developing Outcomes Specific to Your Family

When you choose Summit DD as your Early Intervention services provider, Summit DD and Help Me Grow will partner to create supports that are customized to fit your family’s needs. Your team will work with your you to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan, or IFSP. Your IFSP is a family-driven document that is meant to be used as a road map for your services. Your IFSP identifies the outcomes that you want your child to meet.  Your PSP will work to assist you in helping your child meet these outcomes.

What Can I Expect from Summit DD?

We understand that terminology, appointments and forms can be confusing and overwhelming, which is why we are here to help. Summit DD supports a family-centered, consultative approach to EI services. This Evidence-Based Early Intervention, or EBEI, approach gives you a single point of contact for all of your questions and concerns. Your PSP will use a coaching model to assist you as you implement strategies to meet the outcomes you have identified in you IFSP.  EBEI does not include what families typically describe as direct therapy services, where a specialist works one-on-one with a child.  Instead, we provide you the tools to make your daily routines easier to manage while becoming your child’s best teacher.  Through their regional team meetings, your PSP has weekly access to other professionals who can assist in developing strategies or coach her in specific strategies that she can share with your family.

The video below can show you more about what your services might look like:

How Do I Get Started?

Eligibility determination for services begins with our partners at Ohio Early Intervention. If you are concerned that your child is not meeting his developmental milestones or have just received a diagnosis of a developmental disability such as Down syndrome, Autism spectrum disorder, or a genetic condition, please contact Ohio Early Intervention at 800-755-4769 to get started. You will be assigned a Service Coordinator from Help Me Grow who can assist you through the intake process.

Still have questions about Summit DD’s Early Intervention services? Check out the Early Intervention fact sheet or contact us to submit a question.

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