Early Intervention Process: What should I Expect?

Posted on April 19, 2007 in Articles by lilya

Written by: Lilya Popovetsky, MA Special Education, CAS, SDA

The process of receiving an Early Intervention (EI) Evaluation for children birth to three years old consists of four steps. They are as follows:

1. Refer your child.

2. Meet with your initial service coordinator (ISC).

3. Initial evaluation is conducted.

4. Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meeting, if your child is found to be eligible for services. The entire evaluation process takes 30 days from receipt of the initial referral until the evaluation must be completed. The IFSP meeting, when applicable, must occur within 15 days after the evaluation. Therefore, the entire evaluation process takes a total of 45 days.

In order to refer your child for an evaluation you must contact an Early Intervention provider such as A Multilingual Development Agency, in Nassau County. Residents of other counties must contact their county’s Early Intervention Program referral line. At that time, a referral intake will be taken of the child’s background information.

After the intake is complete, your child is assigned a personal Initial Service Coordinator (ISC). Your ISC will contact you within 10 days to schedule an initial home visit at your convenience. At that time, the ISC will help you resolve any Early Intervention questions or concerns you will have. At the end of the meeting, A Multilingual Development Agency will be authorized to conduct your child’s evaluation.

Next, an evaluator from A Multilingual Development Agency will contact you to schedule a day/time to conduct the evaluation, in your home, according to the optimal time for you and your child. Depending on the needs of your child, there may be two or more evaluations conducted, within the 30 days.

If your child is found eligible to receive Early Intervention services, an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meeting will be held with the family, Initial Service Coordinator (ISC), and evaluator representative, in your home. At that time, services will be authorized for the next 6 months and developmental goals that are specifically tailored to the needs of your child will be set. The ISC will determine the frequency and duration of services. IFSP meetings are held every 6 months to monitor your child’s progress and growth.

Lilya Popovetsky, MA SpEd, CAS, SDA is the founder of A Multilingual Development Agency, a NYS DOH approved Early Intervention agency for children from birth to three years old in Nassau County, NY. She obtained a Master’s Degree from Columbia University’s Teacher’s College in Early Childhood Special Education, with a dual certification in General Education. Lilya went on to complete two educational administration degrees from Hofstra University.