Welcome to AlfaBeta Kids Early Intervention agency
therapeutic services for infants and toddlers with disabilities
- psychological services
- service coordination
- social work services
- special instruction
- speech pathology
- vision services
- assistive technology devices and services
- audiology
- nursing services
- nutrition services
- occupational therapy
- physical therapy
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Which Children Need Early Help?
Services are available to eligible infants and toddlers under three years old who are not developing normally through the New York State Early Intervention Program (EIP). You are able to request an evaluation for your child. Your local program will assist you in obtaining assistance if your child is eligible for them. Families incur no costs.
Any child under three years of age who may not be developing like other children due to a developmental delay, or a disability will require help.
A kid who has a developmental delay lags behind in some aspect of their development, such as learning, growth, thinking, or communication.
A child is considered to have a disability if they are diagnosed with a physical or mental illness that is impeding their growth.
What Help is Available?
Services may include:
- Speech-language, physical, and occupational therapies
- Special instruction
- Audiology (hearing) and vision services
- Family support (social work, groups, training)
Services under the New York State EIP can be given to your child at home, at daycare, or anyplace else they spend their day. This will benefit your household:
- Support and promote your child’s growth
- Include your child in family and community activities
Growing Children Checklist
Developmental Milestones are skills that the majority of kids possess at a specific age. At this age, most kids do the following:
What is Early Intervention Program (EIP)?
A component of the national Early Intervention Program (EIP) is the New York State EIP. It is intended for young children (under three years old) who have a developmental delay or handicap and may not be developing at the same rate as other kids. A child is considered to have a disability if they have a medically documented physical or mental condition that could cause developmental issues. These comprise, but are not limited to, motor difficulties, hearing and visual issues, autism, and Down syndrome. A kid who has a developmental delay lags behind in one or more areas of development, such as communication, learning and thinking, or growth.
The First Step
The first step involves referring your child to the EIP in the county where you reside. New York State and New York City have an EIP for all counties. The EIP must be contacted first for any children who might require assistance. If parents are concerned about their child’s development, they can refer them to the EIP. The EIP is required in New York State if a developmental problem is suspected. Qualified professionals will evaluate your child after referral. If your child is found to be eligible, your county EIP or New York City EIP will help you get services.
Your Initial Service Coordinator
Your Initial Service Coordinator is one of the first people you will meet in the EIP. Your child’s development will be discussed with your ISC. Any questions you have about the EIP will be answered by her or him.
- Check out your family’s rights and make sure you get them.
- You should discuss your child’s evaluation with you. How this evaluation will be determined by the EIP. Find out if your child qualifies for assistance under the EIP.
- Help you pick one that will meet your child’s and family’s needs by giving you the list of evaluators in your county and helping you pick one that will meet your child’s and family’s needs.
- Help arrange for your children’s evaluation with your permission.
- Help you arrange for transportation to your children evaluation, if you need it.
- You can go to your child’s evaluation if you want to.
- In New York, EI services must be provided at no cost to your family. Public and private insurance are used for reimbursement of EI services in New York State’s system of payment for the EIP.
- Gather details and proof regarding your child’s insurance coverage, including both public and private policies. The type of insurance policy or health benefits plan, the name of the insurer or plan administrator, the policy or plan identification number, the type of coverage and any other information needed to bill your insurance are included.
- Answer your questions about the protections the law provides for family health insurance benefits, and explain your rights and responsibilities regarding your family’s health insurance.
Your Child’s Evaluation
The next step is to have your child evaluated if you decide that the EIP can help your family. This type of evaluation is called a multidisciplinary evaluation (MDE) “Multidisciplinary” refers to the participation of a group of experts from various fields or specializations in your child’s evaluation. The EIP is automatically available to children with certain diagnosed conditions. The MDE is designed to assess your child’s strengths, needs, and current level of functioning in all areas of development. Cognitive (learn and think), physical (growth, vision and hearing, gross and fine motor abilities), communication (understanding and using words), social-emotional (relating to others) and adaptive (self-help skills, like eating) are the five areas of growth that will be examined to aid in the development of the IFSP. Your child will be assessed to see if he or she qualifies for EI services and assistance if he or she is suspected of having a delay in growth.
Discussing all options is the job of your ISC.
A list of New York State Department of Health approved evaluators is available for evaluation with you from a list of New York State Department of Health approved evaluators. This includes helping you decide which evaluator would be best for your children needs, the location of the evaluator, types of evaluations performed, and setting for the evaluation (home or evaluation agency)
The Family Assessment
The voluntary family assessment is not required as part of your child’s MDE. The family assessment is family-directed and used to help you in determining the resources, priorities, and concerns of your family related to caring for and enhancing your children development. It is not a test of your parenting skills. Information provided by you and your family is used to make the family assessment.
A one-on-one chat with a member of your child’s evaluation team. You can think about what you need most from EI services and other community services or supports by taking the family assessment. It can also help you prepare for your meeting with the IFSP. Your information is kept private. You decide what information from the assessment should be included in the evaluation report.
You should attend your IFSP meeting.
Your Individualized Family Service Plan
The Individualized Family Service Plan, or IFSP, is a written plan that will be specially designed for you, your child, and your family that outlines and explains the EI services your child and your family will receive.
If the MDE shows that your child is eligible,
Your ISC will schedule a meeting to sit down and write your IFSP. You are an important member of the team that develops the IFSP. Ask for more time to think about the plan if you need it. You may want to review the plan with other family members or discuss it with other family members to make sure it meets the needs of your child and family.
When the plan is completed, you will be asked to sign your IFSP. When you sign the IFSP, you demonstrate that you were at the IFSP meeting and that you agree to the services in the plan. You are also consenting to start EI services.
You don’t have to sign the IFSP if you and the IFSP team don’t agree on it. You can give your written consent to start the services you agree with, and exercise your due process rights to resolve the disagreement.
Your ISC will help you prepare by telling you about what happens at the IFSP meeting and helping you prepare. There are some important things you should know about your meeting.
- The IFSP meeting must be held at a time and place that is convenient for you and your family.
- You, your ISC, the Early Intervention Official (EIO) in your county, and the evaluation team, or selected member of the team must take part in the meeting.
- Family, friends, your babysitter or child care providers can be invited to attend the meeting.
- With your permission, your ISC can invite others to join the meeting.
- You can ask an advocate to take part in the meeting, or you can ask an advocate to take part in the meeting.
- The information that has been collected about your child’s development will be reviewed by you, your ISC, your children’s evaluators, and your EIO.
Together, you will decide how the EIP will benefit your child and family. - The resources, priorities and concerns related to your child’s development will be discussed with your family.
- You will help identify outcomes for your child and family.
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To be eligible for services, children must be under 3 years of age and have a confirmed disability or established developmental delay, as defined by the State, in one or more of the following areas of development: physical, cognitive, communication, social-emotional, and/or adaptive.
ALFABETA KIDS, LLC is an approved Early Intervention Program and has an agreement with the NYS Department of Health as a provider of EIP services.
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