Please click on the following link to view a video on Evidenced-based Early Intervention   Click Here for “What is Evidence-Based Early Intervention?”

EARLY INTERVENTION

“Early intervention” means the provision of services and support as early as possible to enhance a family’s ability to meet the specialized developmental needs of their child.  Early intervention services and supports are designed to identify the presence of a disability or a delay, and make available to parents/caregivers the interventions needed to maximize the child’s optimal growth and development.  Our Early Intervention program serves children age birth to 3 years, and their families.  Early intervention services and supports may include developmental specialist services, speech/language development, occupational, and physical therapy specific to the assessed needs of each child.

THE DEVELOPMENTAL SPECIALIST

The primary provider of developmental specialist services is the Developmental Specialist. The Developmental Specialist is a state-certified professional specially trained to develop and implement strategies and interventions, which may include, but are not limited to, the special instruction as follows:

a)    The design of learning environments and activities that promote the child’s acquisition of skills in a variety of developmental areas, including cognitive processes and social interaction;

b)    Curriculum planning, including the planned interaction of personnel, materials, and time and space, that leads to achieving the outcomes in the child’s IFSP (Individualized Family Support Plan);

c)    Providing families with information, skills, and support related to enhancing the skill development of the child; and

d)    Working with the child to enhance the child’s development.

DESCRIPTION OF EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES

It is our intent to provide early intervention services within a comprehensive system that is:

• Coordinated with families, other community agencies, the Family and Children First Council, and the Early Childhood Collaborative (ECC) network so that services are flexible, accessible, and built upon family strengths and preferences.
• Family-centered, community-based, responsible to the interests, priorities and needs of the family, and provided in natural environments whenever possible.  Families may enter and exit the system at any time and may determine the extent of their involvement in a range of program options.
• Culturally sensitive to the diversity in beliefs, values, and family structures.
• Empowering for families including supporting individual family members to assist their child and to coordinate their chosen services.
• Organized upon a framework that shall include child find and eligibility determination, family involvement and support, interdisciplinary assessment, comprehensive services, individualized family service plan (IFSP) process, follow-along, service coordination, outcome-based program evaluation, procedural safeguards, and a comprehensive system of personnel development.
• Prevention-oriented to reflect efforts to prevent the further development of disabilities, and include participation in collaborative prevention efforts; and
• Future-oriented to reflect transition toward the next environment, including linking with agencies serving preschool children.

 HELP ME GROW of Wyandot County

Are you concerned about your child’s development?  If you are interested in a free developmental screening, you may call Wyandot County Help Me Grow at (419) 294-6408 for children ages birth through 2 years; or call the Wyandot County Preschool Supervisor at (419) 294-4901 for children ages 3 through 5 years.  Don’t delay.  Early intervention is important for your child’s development.