Early Childhood Intervention
What is early childhood intervention services?
State and federal laws require school districts and public agencies to be responsive to families who are concerned about their child’s growth and development. To accomplish this, schools are part of an interagency committee with community and county agencies. This committee, Northern Lights Interagency Council, is charged in Minnesota law to identify prekindergarteners who are at risk for developmental delay.
What does early intervention include?
- Providing a developmental screening
- Making referrals to appropriate agencies, with parent permission
- Evaluation by the local school district’s early childhood special education team
- If eligible according to Minnesota special education criteria, providing early childhood special education programming
- Providing an interagency planning process to develop a comprehensive, coordinated family-based plan for the very young child.
Any child may be referred for early intervention services.
Why is it important to intervene early?
Research tells us that children grow and learn fast and that we are able to make a difference if we help early in their life. State and federal law require that we offer help early to children who have developmental problems.
Because families are so important to the child’s growth and development, families are part of the early intervention team. It is common for young children with disabilities to be involved with more than one agency.
Who can make a referral?
Children may be referred by any person or any agency, with parent permission. Child Find is the system identified in federal and state law for acting on referrals to early intervention.
How is the need for early childhood intervention determined?
The Child Find referral process includes a visit to the child’s home, where the local early childhood special education team screens the child and interviews the family for their needs and priorities related to the child. If the screening indicates a need, a developmental evaluation is conducted. The evaluation report is written and an interagency plan is developed with the family.
For children ages three to 5 years, the early childhood special education team often conducts the screening and the family interview at a local school district site.
Who decides if my child will receive early intervention services?
The school district’s early childhood special education team are certified by Minnesota Department of Education and/or their Professional Boards.
The team includes:
- Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
- Speech Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Physical Therapist
- Regional Audiologist
- Regional Vision Specialist
The child’s interagency intervention service team is dependent upon the child and family needs and eligibility. The team might include county public health nurses, county social workers, Head Start teachers, hospital and rehabilitation center staff, and mental health specialists.
How often does my child’s team meet?
This can vary. Typically a team meets at lest twice each year. You can request a meeting or contact team members at any time between regularly scheduled meetings.
Where are the services provided?
For children under the age of three, early intervention services are provided in the home.
Children, ages three to five (prekindergarten), are provided special education intervention services in a community preschool program with typical age mates. The programs might include: Early Childhood Family Education, School Readiness, local nursery schools, child care centers, and Head Start.
Who do I contact for more information?
Call Marilyn L. Nelson
Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator
Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative
302 14th Street, Cloquet MN 55720
(218)879-1283
What are some other services available to my child and my family?
In addition to the early intervention services already described, other specialized services that may have a fee include:
Medical Occupational Therapy
Medial Physical Therapy
Medical Speech Therapy
Nursing
Transportation
Assistive technology
Family education and counseling
Nutrition
Psychological services
Respite services
Social Work
County Case Management
January 16, 2007
