Early Intervention
Services
Creating a Foundation for Lifelong Success​
By recognizing and addressing developmental delays at the earliest possible stage, early intervention services can help prevent the progression of issues that may develop into more complex challenges later in life. Early intervention offers the chance to provide focused support and resources when they can make the greatest difference.
Early Intervention
Early Intervention is a program that provides supports and therapy services designed to meet the needs of infants and toddlers with developmental delays. These services are family-centered and are designed to reflect each family’s strengths, concerns, priorities, resources, and routines.
In Pennsylvania, early intervention is considered to be an “entitlement service”. This means that, after an independent evaluation performed by the county, any child from birth to age three demonstrating a 25% delay in any area is eligible for services. These services are provided to the child at no cost to the family.
Eligibility Requirements:
Using state-approved standardized developmental testing tools, observation, parental input, and medical history (when needed), a child’s overall abilities are assessed and discussed with the family. The five areas evaluated include the following:
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Cognitive-ability to think and learn
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Communication – ability to talk, listen, and understand
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Physical-ability to see, hear, and move
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Social/Emotional – ability to relate to others
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Adaptive (Self-Care) – ability to eat, dress, and take care of needs
There are several other ways a child may qualify for services:
If a child does not yet demonstrate a qualifying delay and there are no formal tools/tests to measure the child’s development, the professional may use observations to make a decision regarding eligibility using “Informed Clinical Opinion”.
If the child has a diagnoses which may eventually lead to some developmental delays, (for example-Down Syndrome, Failure to Thrive, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) a professional may qualify a child even though there is no current delay.
Finally, in Pennsylvania, children who are considered to be “at risk” can be tracked through the system and monitored for developmental progress. They will be followed by the county’s early intervention service coordinators at least once every three months.
This includes:
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Low birth weight-under 3.3 pounds
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Time in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
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Confirmed dangerous lead levels
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Prenatal drug exposure and/or withdrawal symptoms
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Abuse/neglect confirmed by Child Welfare System
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Homelessness
SFI Therapy Services:
All of our pediatric therapists and teachers are licensed/certified in their specific disciplines, are required to complete annual trainings specified by the state, and are also required by their licensing boards to participate in on-going education.
Specialized areas include autism, infant massage, torticollis treatment, feeding difficulties, behavior problems, communication devices, special equipment, and assistive technology expertise.
Our team includes pediatric speech/language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and special instructors/developmental teachers.
Children that may be having vision or hearing issues can receive services in those areas through the Centre County Base Service Unit’s contract with various provider agencies.
Referral Process:
A physician referral is not required to determine a need for early intervention; however, always discuss your concerns with your child’s doctor. Children-at any age-are rewarding, challenging, demanding, confusing and constantly changing. They are all of these things and more-sometimes at the same time!! They all grow and develop at their own pace and there is a fairly wide range of developmental milestones. Concerns begin to arise when new skills do not appear or there is regression of any kind. Remember-early identification and treatment is crucial in order for all children to reach their potential.
All early intervention referrals start at the Base Service Unit in your county. They will schedule an intake, provide the evaluations, and assign your family a service coordinator to monitor your child’s services.
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Centre County: (814) 355-6586
AUTISM DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC
The Autism Diagnostic Clinic provides no-cost, telehealth autism evaluations for young children ages 18-36 months. The ADC provide a family-centered, strengths-based and compassionate approach to diagnostic evaluation, while helping families understand their child’s strengths and needs and navigate educational and community supports.
What To Expect
Evaluations are completed through telehealth, allowing children and families to participate from their home and within familiar routines. The diagnostic team considers multiple sources of information to develop a comprehensive understanding of each child, including developmental and clinical interviews, standardized developmental and autism-specific assessment tools and telehealth observation and caregiver-guided activities. Collaboration with caregivers occurs throughout the evaluation process. The evaluation includes: Clinical interview: Families meet with a clinician to discuss their child’s developmental history, strengths, everyday experiences, and areas of concern. Assessment: Clinicians use standardized assessment tools and caregiver guided activities to evaluate development, communication, social interaction, play, and behavior. Feedback and recommendations: Families meet with the clinical team to review results, discuss individualized recommendations and resources, and identify next steps. Support Beyond the Evaluation Following the evaluation, families receive individualized feedback, recommendations, and support connecting with appropriate eservices and resources. Families also have access to additional supports, including: Parent Education & Coaching: A strengths-based psychoeducation group focused on understanding their child’s diagnosis and strengths, supporting development within everyday routines, resilience, communicating with family members and providers, navigating services and providers, and preparing for the transition from Early Intervention to preschool activities. Family Peer Support: Following Parent Education & Coaching, families are offered individualized 1:1 with a trained Family Peer Support coach. Coaches will bring shared lived experience and can provide emotional support, help families navigate services and resources, build advocacy and problem-solving skills, and foster connection and resilience.
Referrals
Children may be eligible for the Autism Diagnostic Clinic if they are 18-36 months old. Referrals must be submitted by the child’s Early Intervention Service Coordinator or Pediatrician. Referrals can be submitted or additional information can be requested from ADCreferrals@devereux.org.