Are you concerned about your child's development? Worried that your child might have autism? Afraid your child's not keeping up with his peers? The Early Intervention Program (EIP) can help make a difference for children with special needs.
Young children learn and develop differently. One baby may walk earlier than another, while another baby might talk earlier than another. Often, these differences will even out. However, some children will need extra help to grow and develop.
The Early Intervention Program provides services to eligible children and their families. Early Intervention Services are provided to help your child grow and develop and to help you support and promote your child's development.
The New York State publication, "Early Help Makes a Difference", is a good reference to help you look for signs at different stages of development that might suggest that your infant or toddler may not be growing and developing. Remember to tallk with your child's pediatrician if you have concerns about your child's development.
Where Can Parents Get Help?
Call the Early Intervention Program, Westchester County Health Department at (914) 813-5094. Support staff will put you in touch with an Initial Service Coordinator who will assist you with the Early Intervention process to determine if your child is eligible for the Early Intervention Program.
What Help is Available?
If your child is found eligible, the Early Intervention Program can provide a variety of therapeutic and support services for you and your infant/toddler with disabilities, including: evaluation services (hearing and vision screening), home visits, speech, physical and other therapies, child development groups, and family counseling. These services are provided at no out of pocket costs to the family.
What Children Need Early Help?
Any child from birth to age three with a developmental delay, disability or condition that affects development may need help. Developmental delays may range from minor delays in speech development to more major delays in children with autism.
Who Do I Call to Refer My Child to the EIP?
To make a referral to the Westchester County Early Intervention Program please call the referral line (914) 813-5094.
How Do I Resolve a Complaint or Concern?
If you are a parent of a child or represent a family who has a complaint regarding services under the Westchester County Early Intervention Program, the Department of Health formal complaint resolution process is available to you. Your right to use Due Process Procedures to settle disagreements or complaints includes your right to access Mediation, to access an Impartial hearing and to file a Systems Complaint.
You can find the dispute resolution procedures explained fully by viewing New York State's Your Rights as a Parent webpage.
The dispute resolution procedures can also be found in New York State's Early Intervention Steps Parent's Guide, on pages 15-16 and 21-23.
Complaints of suspected violation of laws, rules and regulations relating to the Early Intervention Program must be submitted by a parent, a representative of the parent or any other individual or entity in writing to the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Early Intervention for investigation and resolution. The New York State Department of Health Bureau of Early Intervention must receive your complaint within one year of the event in the complaint or of the concern. This information can be found in the pages referenced above.
The Early Intervention due process rights and the dispute resolution procedures are made available to you in writing by your Service Coordinator and your Early Intervention Official Designee (EIOD) in the Westchester County Early Intervention Program Notice of Child and Family Rights.
Parent Questionnaire
Please help us to evaluate the Early Intervention Program by taking a few minutes to answer one of the questionnaires below. Your response will be useful in determining what practices work best and how we can refine the system for those we will be serving in the future.
- Questionnaire for child determined Ineligible for Services
- Questionnaire for child who received EI services and is being discharged
Other Resources:
- Early Help Makes a Difference (NYSDOH) available in a number of different languages
- Bureau of Early Intervention (NYSDOH)