Birth-to-3: Early Intervention

If you're concerned about a baby or toddler's development, or if you suspect that a little one has a delay or disability, early intervention services can be a terrific source of help.  Early intervention services can help infants and toddlers with delays or disabilities to learn many new skills and catch up in their development.   

It's not uncommon for parents and family members to become concerned when their beautiful baby or growing toddler doesn't seem to be developing according to the typical schedule of milestones.

          "He hasn't rolled over yet."

          "The little girl next door is already sitting on her own!"

          "She should be saying a few words by now."

Sound familiar?  While it's true that children develop differently and at their own pace and that a range of what's typical is quite broad, it's hard not to worry and wonder. 

What to do

If you think that your child is not developing at the same pace or in the same way as most children his or her age, it is often a good idea to first talk to your child's pediatrician.  Explain your concerns.  Tell the doctor what you have observed with your child. 

You an also get in touch with your county early intervention program, and ask to have your little one evaluated to see if he or she has a developmental delay or disability.  The evaluation is free of charge, won't hurt your child, and looks at your child's basic skills.  Based on the results of the evaluation, your child may be eligible for early intervention services.  Some common early intervention services include special instruction with an infant-toddler teacher, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.   

How to get in touch with your county's Birth-to-3 Early Intervention Program

In each Pennsylvania county, there is a designated public agency responsible for early intervention service coordination.  Your service coordinator will explain the early intervention process and help you through the next steps in that process.  He or she with coordinate you child's evaluation and, if your child is eligible for services, offer you an appropriate choice of providers.     

          In Blair County, contact North Star Support Services at (814) 946-3657

          In Cambria County, contact Early Intervention at (814) 535-8531

          Elsewhere in Pennsylvania, contact the CONNECT Helpline at (800) 692-7288   

What to say to the early intervention contact person

Explain that you are concerned about your child's development.  Say that you think your child may need early intervention services and that you would like to have your child evaluated.  It is a good idea to write down the names and phone numbers of everyone you talk to as you move through the early intervention process.   

Choosing a Provider: What to Expect from Kids First

After your child has been evaluated and is eligible for Early Intervention, you may be asked by your service coordinator to choose a provider.  There are a number of possibilities, and it can be difficult to know what you are looking for in a provider.   Here's what to expect from Kids First:

  • Kids First was founded in 2006 (see more at About Us), we have been providing early intervention services since 2008.
  • Since 2008, we have expanded to a staff of over 20 infant-toddler specialists, including special instructors, social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists.
  • Many of our instructors and therapists have specialized expertise in such areas as infant massage, feeding, sensory integration, hearing, and neurological development.
  • We will work with your family as a team around your child.  Goals, strategies and service delivery are based on your family life, priorities and choices. 
  • We will promote your child's development through play and their daily routines and interactions at home, in the community, and in child care settings.

At Kids First, we are passionate about our work with children and families, about celebrating successes, and about working in partnership to meet challenges.  We invite you to explore the rest of our website to learn more about how we work to support young children and families.