Early Intervention Program

The EIP is administered by the New York State Department of Health through the Bureau of Early Intervention. In New York State, the Early Intervention Program was established in Article 25 of the Public Health Law and has been in effect since July 1, 1993.

Please visit the NYSDOH EI website at: New York State Early Intervention

Questions about referrals?  Call (518)584-7460 ext. 8398

 

 

Early Intervention Eligibility

Child must be: under 3 years of age*

AND 

have a confirmed disability or established developmental delay (as defined by New York State)

*For children ages 3 & older, please contact your local school district to request an evaluation using a Committee for Preschool Special Education Chairperson.

Eligibility for children suspected of having such delays will be determined by a formal evaluation following parental consent.

Saratoga County offers monitoring & surveillance for children at risk of developmental delays through the Child Find Program.  Click here for Child Find Program information.

 

Referral Process

Professionals must refer babies and toddlers to the Early Intervention Program if there is a concern about the child’s development.   As a parent, you can also refer your child to your Early Intervention Program if you suspect a problem.  Early Intervention is a voluntary program.  Parents must give permission to have their child evaluated.  Use the referral line or click the link at the top of this site to make a referral.

 

Early Intervention Program Cost

All Early Intervention services are provided at no cost to the family

As per the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Early Intervention:

“You cannot be asked to pay any out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles or co-payments, for any services your child and family receive in the Early Intervention Program.  Under Public Health Law, providers of early intervention services are required to bill public and private insurance for early intervention services first, before submitting bills for payment by your municipality.  Private insurance will only be billed if your insurance policy is subject to New York State law.  New York State’s system of payments for the Early Intervention Program includes the use of public insurance  (such as Medicaid and Child Health Plus) and private insurance (such as CDPHP, UHC and others) for reimbursement.”

 

Evaluation

Services begin with an initial visit with a Service Coordinator.  The Service Coordinator will assist the family in determining the needs of the child — using all available resources to help the family meet the special needs of their child in the most natural environment (home, child care center or family day care, and recreational settings like play grounds, libraries, play groups).  During the initial visit, the Service Coordinator will also assist the family in scheduling a multidisciplinary evaluation.

Multidisciplinary simply means that more than one professional will be a part of the child’s evaluation.  For example, the child’s evaluation team should have at least: a professional who can look at the child’s overall development and a professional with special knowledge about the specific concern.

 

 Early Intervention Services

Once the child is found to be eligible for the Early Intervention Program, a Service Coordinator will facilitate an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meeting for the purpose of developing an IFSP with the family.   The written plan includes the family’s desired outcomes and agreed-upon Early Intervention services.

The Early Intervention Program offers a variety of therapeutic and support services to eligible infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families, including:

Family Education and Home Visits

Special, Individualized Instruction

Speech Pathology

Occupational Therapy

Physical Therapy

Social Work Services & Family Advocacy Supports

Service Coordination

Vision Services

Assistive Technology Devices & Support

 

Local Early Intervention Coordinating Council

The LEICC is composed of parents and professionals who advise the Early Intervention Official about the system of early intervention services for infants and toddlers, from birth through three years, who have disabilities and developmental delays. Meetings are open to the public and all parents, providers of children’s services, and any other interested party.  Please click here for more information about the Saratoga County LEICC.    

 

 

Employment Opportunities

If you are interested in becoming an Early Intervention Provider, please contact the New York State Bureau of Early Intervention to complete an agreement application by clicking here: Frequently Asked Questions for Service Providers

Helpful links for parents:

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