Anyone can refer a child to early intervention—parents, physicians, other health care providers, child care providers, social service agencies, early learning programs, etc. Once a referral is made, it is up to the family to decide whether they want to participate.
1) Connecting with Early Intervention
Call your local Child and Family Connections (CFC) office to request a developmental evaluation. To find your local CFC office, call (800) 843-6154. Families should receive a call back within two business days.
3) Develop a Plan
If your child is eligible, you will work with your team to develop a plan for supports and services, called an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). These services will be provided at a convenient time for your family and in familiar places where your child learns and plays, such as your home, child care center, the park, or the library. You can view a sample IFSP here.
The IFSP team will review your child’s progress and services after your child has received services for six months and again after a year. The IFSP team may meet more frequently if needed or upon your request. After a year, if your child is determined to still be eligible for services, the team will develop a new IFSP. For more information on IFSPs, view our tip sheets What’s in Your IFSP? and Six-Month Review: An Important Part of the EI Process.
Find more information about the early intervention process by reading our EI basics tip sheets.