When we discover our children are facing developmental delays or a medical diagnosis, time is more than just precious—it’s critical. The earlier any needs are identified and addressed, the greater the chances of significantly improving outcomes in health, education, and overall quality of life.
In this article, we’ll explore why early intervention is not just helpful, but essential—and how it can transform lives by building a stronger foundation for the future.
Thanks to our sponsors at Pediatric Partners Early Intervention Services for providing us with this helpful information and sharing their expertise with us!
What is Early Intervention?
Early intervention is a free, voluntary service for families with children between the ages of 0-3 who either have or are at risk for a developmental delay. Early Intervention is a program that supports, models, and guides caregivers in evidence-based strategies that will help their child meet goals and reach their highest potential! This involves teaching parents specific strategies to support their child’s development, enhancing their confidence and competence, and focusing on natural environments to support the child’s development.
Early Intervention is a state-run program a child will have to qualify for. A formal assessment is completed by local providers (like the team at Pediatric Partners), which takes a closer look at their receptive and expressive language, fine and gross motor skills, cognitive development, and social-emotional and adaptive behavior skills.
Although an evaluation is completed on every child, there are some diagnoses that will automatically qualify a child for early intervention services due to developing delays or being at risk for developing delays due to the diagnosis.
These diagnoses include:
- Chromosomal anomalies and genetic disorders such as Down syndrome, or Kleinfelter’s syndrome
- Chronic medical illness such as heart conditions or failure to thrive
- Congenital syndromes such as hydrocephaly or neural tube defects
- Neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy or Muscular dystrophy
- Complications of Prematurity: Children less than one year of age must have a history of two of the following:
- Very Low Birth Weight (less than 3.3 pounds)
- Interventricular Hemorrhage
- Ventilator dependent for 72 hours or more
- Asphyxiation
- Have had ECMO
- Respiratory Distress Syndrome
- Gestational age less than 32 weeks
- Intrauterine Growth Restriction
- Periventricular Leukomalacia
Development Delays to Look For
If your child does not have a diagnosed medical condition, there are some missed milestones that could be a reason to consider an early intervention evaluation.
- Baby is having difficulty turning their head to each side or having difficulty lifting their head up against gravity when on their tummy. Or if you notice any flattening on the back of their head or on one side.
- Not rolling tummy to back and back to tummy by 6 months old.
- Not sitting independently by 8 months old.
- Not crawling on hands and knees by 12 months old.
- Not walking independently by 15 months old.
- Not using gestures such as waving or shaking their head no by 15 months old.
- If your child has less than 10 words by 18 months old.
- If your child is not yet following simple directions such as “get the ball” or “throw diaper away” by 18 months old.
- Picky eating or gagging on purees or solid foods.
Who Qualifies for Early Intervention?
There are three ways to qualify for early intervention services:
- The child needs to have a 25% delay in two developmental areas or a 50% delay in one area. These areas include:
- Receptive and expressive language
- Fine and gross motor skills
- Cognitive development skills
- Social emotional skills
- Adaptive behavior skills
- A high-risk diagnosis that makes the child automatically eligible (see partial list above)
- A letter of Informed Clinical Opinion from the evaluation team stating the concerns, the areas being affected, and what could happen if there is no intervention.
Who Can Make a Referral?
Referrals for an early intervention services can be made by anyone! Your primary provider may suggest an evaluation after your child’s well-check exam or if you raise any concerns. They can place a referral for you by sending your information to Southeast Human Service Center (SEHSC). Parents are also welcome to can call Pediatric Partners to talk to an Early Intervention provider directly, or you can call Southeast Human Service Center (SEHSC).
How Does the Evaluation Work?
Once a referral is made, the early intervention intake is conducted with a service coordinator from Southeast Human Service Center (for the Fargo area), or Northeast Human Service Center (for the Grand Forks area), and caregivers. This is a meeting to get to know you and your child and what concerns you may have.
After intake, the referral goes to the early intervention provider who will then call the family to schedule the evaluation. The evaluation is done by a multidisciplinary team, which can include Special Educators, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and/or Speech Language Pathologists, depending on the child’s needs.
The initial evaluation can take place in the home or other natural environment for the child. The evaluation report is based off of observations, standardized tests, and a parent report of the child’s development. The report is then sent to SEHSC/NEHSC eligibility committee to determine if the child qualifies.
What Do Early Intervention Services Look Like?
If referred for services and found eligible, the first step is to develop an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP). This meeting is held with the Primary Early Intervention Professional (PEIP), the child’s family, and the service coordinator from SEHSC. The PEIP is the person that will be doing the visits in the home with the child and family. The service coordinator helps with resources and other services the family may be interested in.
The purpose of this meeting is to develop the goals the family wants to work on, looking at the evaluation results and concerns the family may have. Goals focus on routines of the day, including feeding, bath time, sleeping, and communication.
Annual evaluations are done and every six months the plan is reviewed and updated with a new plan written annually also.
Although the PEIP will be the primary person in the home with the family, various other providers can be part of the family plan, depending on the child’s needs. These can include Special Educators, Occupational therapist, Physical therapist, Speech language pathologist and possibly other providers as needed.
The frequency of home visits is decided by the team and the family. They can be twice a week, once a week or any frequency the team feels is the most beneficial. The only requirement is that visits happen monthly. Visits are done in the home or other natural environment where the child is most comfortable and can focus on routines of the day.
Early Intervention is a voluntary program and service can end at any time. A child can be in services until the day before they turn three. If your child is eligible for Early Intervention, they are also eligible for WIC and the ND medical assistance program.
Early Intervention Services at Pediatric Partners
At Pediatric Partners, their Early Intervention team will develop a plan with you and your child’s team based on everyday routines and needs, and concerns. They have a team of pediatric experts with over 55 years of experience to support you and provide strategies to help your child reach their fullest potential. Their support and services include ongoing home visits, consultations, and parent coaching. All services are free to eligible children until the day before they turn three!
For questions or to talk about doing a referral, please go to Pediatric Partners website or call 1-888-875-5262.
