Early Intervention
Early Intervention (EI) is a voluntary developmental evaluation and services program offered by New York State and administered locally by Child and Family Health Services of the Monroe County Department of Health. EI serves children from birth through 2 years of age and their families where there is a high risk of delay, a suspected delay in development, or a confirmed diagnosis of developmental disability.
A variety of therapeutic and support services are offered to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. There is no cost to families for any of these services.
For more information call 585 530-5437.
Early Intervention Services
Early Intervention (EI) has two parts: Childfind for developmental tracking and monitoring and Services which provide a multidisciplinary evaluation and, if the child is eligible, the development of a plan to provide services to the child and family. Major provisions of the program include:
- Identification and referral of children at risk or suspected of disability by primary referral sources
- Periodic developmental screening and tracking of at risk children
- Service coordination for eligible children and families
- A multidisciplinary evaluation provided at no cost to parents to determine eligibility
- Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) for eligible children and families
- Provision of early intervention services in the IFSP at no cost to parents
- Delivery of services in natural settings in the community where children of the same age are typically found, to the maximum extent appropriate
The steps in the Early Intervention Process are:
- Referral
- Visit by the Initial Service Coordinator
- A multidisciplinary evaluation to look at the child’s functioning in five areas of development, including the area(s) of concern
- The IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) meeting
- Early Intervention services if the child is eligible
- Review after six months/evaluate annually
- Transition to Preschool Special Education (3–5) or to other early childhood services
Early Intervention is administered locally by Child and Family Health Services of the Monroe County Department of Health.
Transitioning From Early Intervention
If services are currently being provided by the Early Intervention program, and the child continues to need services, there is a transition process into the preschool special education (3–5) system.
Download the School District Contacts (CPSE Chairs) document (152k PDF).
The family’s Early Intervention service coordinator is a wonderful source of information concerning the transition process. The process moves in this order:
- The service coordinator discusses the transition process with the parent and gives them a booklet outlining the process.
- With the parent’s permission, the service coordinator submits the child’s name to the local school district to transition in either September, or December depending on the child’s birthday. In rare cases, children can transition in July.
- The parent receives information from the school district and a request to choose an evaluation site. Also, the parent signs a permission to evaluate and sends it back to the school district.
- An evaluation of the child’s development in five areas of development is conducted to determine eligibility for continued services. A CPSE (Committee on Preschool Special Education) meeting is held to determine what services if any, the child will be receiving. Service providers, parents, and the service coordinator are all invited. If in a child care program, parents may request that their child’s early childhood teacher attend.
If it is possible and appropriate, children may continue to be served in the preschool (3–5) system by the same provider at the same location. It is important not to make promises to the parents about services remaining exactly the same. By regulations, the CPSE decides the service plan. School districts do consider parent and provider recommendations, but the final decision rests with the CPSE.
Children whose third birthdays fall between January 1 and August 31 have to transition on or before September 1. Those who have birthdays between September 1 and December 31, usually transition in January of the following year, but can choose to transition in September.
The biggest differences are:
- No service coordinator is provided by the school district (3–5). However, the school district in partnership with parents becomes responsible for any preschool special education needs of the child.
- The Individualized Education Plan (IEP) focuses more on the educational needs of the child in the 3–5 system. The needs of the family as well as the child are considered more in the Individual Family Service Plan for the early intervention system.
- The preschool evaluation must include a test by a psychologist, which looks at the thinking and reasoning ability of the child. It also includes a complete social history.
Transition from Preschool to School Age Programs
If your child continues to need services as they are entering their kindergarten year, he/she will need to transition to a Committee on Special Education (CSE) run by the local district. With permission, an evaluation would be completed and recommendations made to the CSE for services.
Terms and Abbreviations
There are common terms and abbreviations used in the Early Intervention system. Knowing what they mean is important for any parent with a child in EI.
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
This is legislation that bans discrimination against children and adults with disabilities and requires that reasonable accommodation be made for a person with a disability. - Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE)
This committee makes decisions about services for children with disabilities between the ages of three and five years of age. The committee is chaired by a local school district administrator. The committee members, including the child’s parents and early childhood teacher (if applicable) consider eligibility using a formal evaluation as a base. - Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
If it is determined that a child does qualify, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed. This is the plan that sets out the goals and objectives for a preschooler with a disability and specifies what services will be provided to the child, where they will occur, how often and who will provide them. - Committee on Special Education (CSE)
If the child is still in need of services as he/she turns school age (5), with parental permission, he/she will be evaluated and the results presented to the local school district Committee on Special Education (CSE). Early Intervention Program (EI). Guided by Federal and State Law, this program serves children with disabilities under the age of three years. In New York State, the Department of Health administers the program and each County Health Department is responsible for local administration. This program has many components and funds some services for the infant or toddler with disabilities as well as his or her family. - Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)
If the child qualifies for services an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is developed with goals and objectives. Law requires that children be served in his or her “natural environment.” This may mean the child’s home, child care center, baby sitter, etc. - Early Intervention Service Coordinator
Children and their families enrolled in the Early Intervention Program (birth to three) have a coordinator of services. This person helps the family access an evaluation and services and makes sure things are working according to the IFSP. This person is who the parent or guardian can call if they need help or have concerns about an enrolled child. - Integrated Classroom
A classroom located in a natural setting that includes children with and without disabilities. It must be approved by the State Education Department (SED) and can have no more than 12 children with disabilities. - CSE
Committee on Special Education - CPSE
Committee on Preschool Special Education - DDSO
Developmental Disabilities Service Office - DOH
Department of Health - DSS
Department of Social Services. Provides funding for some children to attend early childhood settings. - ECICMC
Early Childhood Intervention Council of Monroe County - IDEA
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act - IEP
Individualized Education Plan - IFSP
Individualized Family Service Plan - LEICC
Local Early Intervention Coordinating Council - OT
Occupational Therapy - PT
Physical Therapy - RAEYC
Rochester Association for the Education of Young Children - SED
State Education Department - SEIT
Special Education Itinerant Teacher - SETRC
Special Education Training Resource Center (professional development and resource center, funded by NYS Education Department) - ST/SLP
Speech Language Therapy/ Speech Language Pathologist
Education for Children with Disabilities (ECD)
Education for Children With Disabilities (ECD) oversees preschool special education programs with school districts, parents and approved providers. Evaluations and specially planned individual or group services or programs are provided to eligible children, ages 3–5, who have a disability that affects their learning. Funding for these special education programs and services is provided by New York State through the Monroe County Department of Health.
Download the School District Contacts (CPSE Chairs) document (152k PDF).
If a child receives early intervention services as an infant or toddler up to age three and needs special education, the service coordinator will assist with transition planning and making a referral to the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE). If a preschool-age child (3–5 years) did not receive early intervention services, but has some delays or lags in development, the parent or professionals who know the child, may make a referral to the chairperson of the school district’s CPSE who will assist the parent in completing the referral process. The Committee on Preschool Special Education is made up of the parent, teachers, school district rep, etc.
When a child is referred to the CPSE the parent is given a list of approved agencies that provide preschool special education evaluations. After an approved evaluator is selected and the parent signs a consent form, the child will be evaluated at no cost to the family. A copy of the evaluation report, including a summary of the evaluation, will be provided to the parent and to other CPSE members. A meeting will be set with the CPSE to talk about the evaluation results. If the child is found not eligible for special education programs and/or services, the reasons will be provided in writing. If the child is found to be eligible the CPSE will recommend programs or services (to meet the child’s individual needs) and the location where they will be provided.
Preschool Special Education
This service offers multi-disciplinary evaluations based on suspected developmental delay and educational need. Also provided are special education and/or related services (therapy) for eligible children, 3–5 years of age. Children are referred through their local school district.
For more information call 585 753-5094.
