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Early Intervention Support

Free, family-centered early intervention for children birth to three with developmental delays, provided in your home.

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Start Your Child’s Journey with Early Intervention

If you have concerns or questions about your child’s development before age three, the first step is to talk to your doctor about a screening. If concerns remain, ask for a referral to your local Children’s Integrated Services (CIS) team, or you can dial 2-1-1 for resources. CIS-EI offers family-centered early intervention for children who have or may be at risk for a developmental delay, which is mandated by federal law (IDEA, Part C). These services are completely free to your family, regardless of your income or location in Vermont. The process involves a screening, a private evaluation, and, if your child is eligible, developing a “One Plan” with a team. This plan is flexible and helps you set goals and track your child’s progress. Services are provided in natural environments, like your home or community, and may include support like audiology, physical therapy, or specialized instruction. Remember, your role as a parent is vital—you are an equal member of the team.

What to Expect

  • The program, CIS-EI, is mandated by federal law (IDEA, Part C) and is completely free regardless of income or location in Vermont.
  • The process includes a screening, a private evaluation, and, if eligible, developing a flexible “One Plan” with a team.
  • Services are for children from birth to age three who have or may be at risk for a developmental delay.
  • Support is provided in natural environments like the home or community and may include services such as audiology, physical therapy, or specialized instruction.
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    FAQs

    If you are concerned about your child’s development, talk to your child’s doctor and ask for a developmental screening. If you or the doctor is still concerned, ask the doctor for a referral to your local Children’s Integrated Services team. Contact your local Children’s Integrated Services team coordinator or dial 2-1-1 toll free from anywhere in Vermont for helpful resources.

    CIS-EI provides family-centered early intervention for children from birth to age 3 who have, or may be at risk for, a delay in their development. Early Intervention is required by the federal law called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C.

    Your child and family may receive Early Intervention services if your child has an observable or measurable delay in one or more areas of development:

    • Thinking and learning skills
    • Moving, seeing and hearing
    • Understanding and using sounds, gestures, and words
    • Responding to and developing relationships with other people
    • Taking care of themselves when they are doing things like feeding or dressing

    Early Intervention services can:

    • Help you understand your child’s growth
    • Partner with you to help you reach your goals for your child
    • Meet at a comfortable place for you and your child, in your home or the community
    • Connect you to resources

    These services are available to you and your child (birth to age 3) at no cost regardless of your income or where you live in Vermont. With your permission, insurance and Medicaid can be billed for services to ensure that programs are sustainable.

    A member of the Early Intervention services team in your area will come to your home, or a place that works for you, to listen to your concerns and hear about your child’s development and routines. A developmental screening will be offered if your child has not already had one. A developmental screening will indicate whether or not your child would need further evaluation to determine if your child needs services with Early Intervention. You will have the right to request a screening at any time during the screening process.

    If you choose to have your child evaluated, an Early Intervention provider and a team member who is knowledgeable in your child’s areas of concern will complete the evaluation. Evaluations can take place in your home, child care program, or another setting.

    You will receive your child’s evaluation report which is private. It will only be shared with you, the evaluators, and others with your permission. If your child is eligible for Early Intervention services, you will decide if you want to work with a team of professionals from your area to develop a One Plan for your child. Developing your child’s One Plan and all the services provided under the Plan are provided at no cost to you.

    The One Plan is a document created to help you and the professionals who will be working with your child. It is used to plan goals, track progress, and document appropriate services and supports for you and your child. The One Plan should take into account your routines, culture, lifestyle, and community.

    Services are provided in your child’s natural environments and the places that are most convenient to your family. The One Plan is a flexible plan, which changes as your child grows and develops.

    Early Intervention can help you access services which may include:

    • Audiology
    • Assistive Technology
    • Counseling/Psychological
    • Family training, counseling and home visits
    • Medical Evaluation (for diagnostic purposes only)
    • Nursing
    • Nutrition
    • Occupational Therapy
    • Physical Therapy
    • Service Coordination
    • Social Work
    • Special Instruction
    • Speech/Language
    • Transportation
    • Vision

    Service Provider – You may have a regular visitor, who is a primary service provider. This person could be a developmental educator, a speech and language pathologist, a physical therapist or an occupational therapist. This primary service provider will provide direct service to you and your family. If your child has more than one area of concern you may have multiple visitors who specialize in different areas of development.

    Service Coordinator – The Service Coordinator will help you arrange services, support you with finding and using resources, and facilitate meetings and transitions. The Service Coordinator could be your primary service provider, a family resource coordinator, or a medical social worker, depending on your family’s needs and wishes.

    All families have access to information from all members of the team even if you have one primary service provider. The members of the team in your area meet regularly and with your permission, they can consult with one another to help your child across all areas.

    Your role as the parent or caregiver is very important. As an equal member of your child’s Early Intervention team, your role is to:

    • Ask questions and share information
    • Work with us to develop strategies and activities that will help your child grow
    • Integrate those strategies and activities into your family’s daily routine
    • Tell us your needs and concerns

    Once the One Plan is developed, you will meet with your child’s providers to review your One Plan every six months or sooner if you choose. If an assessment shows that your child’s skills are age-appropriate, your child is no longer eligible for CIS-EI services. Your team members can discuss other resources in the community for your child and family.

    When your child is 2 and half years old, your CIS-EI team will begin to discuss appropriate transition plans.

    Some children may qualify for Early Childhood Special Education. Early Childhood Special Education is special education and related services for children 3 to 5 years old that are provided by your local school district at no cost to you. Special education is special instruction that meets your child’s individual needs.

    Related services are services your child may need to help them successfully participate in special education, such as speech and language, occupational or physical therapy, transportation, or counseling. Services are run by local school districts in partnership with local early childhood service providers to make sure that children with disabilities are educated along with typically developing children in their community and not segregated.

    Jessica Thompson

    Burlington, Vermont

    • VFN has been a game changer for my family!

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