About the Early Intervention Program (EIP)
The Early Intervention Program is a statewide program that provides many different types of early intervention services to children with delays or disabilities and their families. If your child is eligible for the Early Intervention Program, early intervention services are provided at not cost to you. Health Insurance, including private insurance and Medicaid, is used to pay for early intervention services in New York State.
Starting with our initial service coordination, we will guide you through the evaluation process to determine if your child is eligible for services. If found eligible, we offer services and support to help your child reach their developmental milestones, whether it takes 6 months or 3 years. We believe in a team approach throughout the process, involving family participation each step of the way. From the very start, we develop a complete understanding of the child within the full context of his family life
Parents-or others who interact with a baby, such as a grandparent, caretaker, or family member – usually notice the problem first. But many parents don’t know what to do next. We can help.
Why Early Intervention?
According to long-range studies, there are three primary reasons why early intervention is beneficial:
- to enhance the child’s development
- to provide support and assistance to the family
- to maximize the child’s and family’s benefit to society
Here’s how it works:
- The person who suspects a child is not developing as expected calls the local government office, such as 311 in New York City, to ask for a referral to the NYC Early Intervention Program (EIP).
- The referral is made, and the child is assigned a Initial Service Coordinator who will guide the family through the process, beginning with determining EIP eligibility. Our service coordinators speak a variety of languages which enhances family participation in the process.
The metrochildren Service Coordinator acts as a guide in identifying evaluation sites, explaining the eligibility criteria, and facilitating the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meeting where the services, frequency and location of services will be determined.
At metrochildren we have the breadth and depth of experience to evaluate children for eligibility in the Early Intervention Program, and to assist in the development of the IFSP. Parents are the heart of this process: we listen carefully as they articulate their goals for their child. We then build a plan which serves as a map to:
- the services that will help these outcomes be met
- the service providers and place of service
- the ways services will be used to reach the outcomes
SERVICES
Once your child’s services are authorized, we are ready and set to go! Services can be provided in the home, daycare center, or in the community.
Based on the guidelines provided by the state’s Early Intervention Program (EIP), metrochildren provides the full-range of services required from evaluation to school transition.
- Service Coordination
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA Services)
- Audiology (hearing specialist)
- Play Therapy
- Social Work and Counseling Services
- Family Training
- Feeding Therapy
- Nutrition Services
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Special Instruction
- Speech Therapy
- Vision Therapy
Autism Services
