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Information for Families
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Early Intervention (EI)?
Early Intervention is supportive, educational, and developmental services for families of children birth to three years of age who are developmentally delayed or who are considered at risk for developmental delay. Families who receive EI services may include families with children who have a diagnosed condition, children who have a developmental delay in one or more areas of development, and children who have had a challenging early beginning. Families often learn about Early Intervention through doctors, nurses, teachers, social workers, friends and community agencies.
Who works in Early Intervention?
Early Intervention teams include nurses, developmental educators, teaching assistants, speech, physical, occupational and family therapists, counselors, and social workers. South Bay's EI programs are organized on a transdisciplinary model. The transdisciplinary approach refers to two or more staff of different disciplines who share information and expertise to assist children and families to reach their goals. Each team member brings the expertise of their own discipline to the team's efforts and acts as a resource to families and other team members in this area.
Where are South Bay's Early Intervention programs located?
South Bay's programs are located in Brockton, Fall River, and Lowell, Massachusetts.
Who pays for Early Intervention?
Early Intervention services are paid in part through your tax dollars. The program's primary funding sources are private insurance companies, Medicaid, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, as well as federal money that is available for the education of children with special needs. Early Intervention services will be billed to your insurance company. The Department of Public Health covers many costs that are not paid by your insurance company including deductibles and co-payments. The Department of Public Health also covers the cost of services in the event that you are without insurance for your child. No matter what your financial situation, screening and assessment of every child is provided at no direct cost to you. Depending on your family size and income, your Early Intervention program will determine if there is an annual cost participation fee to receive services.
How do I know if my child is at risk?
Eligibility for EI services is determined by an eligibility evaluation performed by a transdisciplinary team, exercising sound judgment, and using a developmental inventory scale approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Only certified Early Intervention programs can determine eligibility. There are two categories of eligibility for EI services:
1. Children with established risk or established developmental delays: This category includes children who have a medical condition such as Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, or Cerebral Palsy, and children who display a moderate delay in one or more developmental domains.
2. Children at risk for development delays or disorders: This category includes children with prenatal disease or birth trauma, premature birth or low birth weight, and children who experience environmental problems such as inadequate nutrition, lead poisoning, homelessness, or parental substance abuse.
How does South Bay Early Intervention work?
First, a referral is made to Early Intervention. You can do this by contacting South Bay's Intake department at 1-800-244-4691. Then you will receive a call to set up a convenient time to meet and gather information to determine eligibility. This is called a "screening" and an Early Intervention Specialist will come to your home or a location of your choice. At this meeting, the EI program will be fully explained to you. Following the screening, a second visit will occur to do an eligibility assessment of your child. Again, we will come to your home or a preferred location. Your family will be assigned a Service Coordinator who will be in charge of making sure that your child's and family's needs are being met. Your Service Coordinator will listen to your concerns, determine what services you need, and help connect or refer you to the needed supports. The last step after the assessment is to write and Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) that will help your family and the program identify the outcomes you would like to work towards and the services that will help meet your child's and family's needs.
What is an Individualized Family Service Plan?
Once your child and family are found to be eligible for Early Intervention, an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is written. The IFSP is an important document that is at the heart of Early Intervention services and is developed in partnership with caregivers, EI staff, and others you may want to include. Together, we create a plan that includes the goals and services that will be part of your EI experience. We believe that no one knows your child as well as you and therefore, you are a key partner in creating the plan. You will be asked to identify your child's strengths and concerns. You will also be asked to identify when, where, and how often you would like services for your child. The IFSP also includes steps we will take to assist you and your child in the transition from EI when your child turns three.
What happens at age 3?
Some children will leave the program before age three, and some at age three. Some children continue to need help after they leave Early Intervention. You need to be aware of services that may be of help to you. The program will work closely with your local public school special education department and preschool team to ensure that your child continues to receive necessary services without interruption. The program will also work to transition your child and family to other appropriate services in the event that your child does not require public school services.
Other questions?
The South Bay Early Intervention team will be more than happy to answer all of your questions. If for any reason we cannot help you, then we will try our best to assist you in finding the answers you need. Please contact a local program or South Bay's Intake Department at 1-800-244-4691 for more information about receiving Early Intervention services. You may also call the statewide information, resource, referral, and support network for families. The toll free number is 1-800-905-TIES (8437).
What is Early Intervention (EI)?
Early Intervention is supportive, educational, and developmental services for families of children birth to three years of age who are developmentally delayed or who are considered at risk for developmental delay. Families who receive EI services may include families with children who have a diagnosed condition, children who have a developmental delay in one or more areas of development, and children who have had a challenging early beginning. Families often learn about Early Intervention through doctors, nurses, teachers, social workers, friends and community agencies.
Who works in Early Intervention?
Early Intervention teams include nurses, developmental educators, teaching assistants, speech, physical, occupational and family therapists, counselors, and social workers. South Bay's EI programs are organized on a transdisciplinary model. The transdisciplinary approach refers to two or more staff of different disciplines who share information and expertise to assist children and families to reach their goals. Each team member brings the expertise of their own discipline to the team's efforts and acts as a resource to families and other team members in this area.
Where are South Bay's Early Intervention programs located?
South Bay's programs are located in Brockton, Fall River, and Lowell, Massachusetts.
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The Brockton site serves: Brockton, Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Easton, Rockland, Stoughton, West Bridgewater, Whitman. | |
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The Fall River site serves: Fall River, Freetown, Somerset, Swansea, and Westport. | |
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The Lowell site serves: Lowell, Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, and Westford. |
Who pays for Early Intervention?
Early Intervention services are paid in part through your tax dollars. The program's primary funding sources are private insurance companies, Medicaid, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, as well as federal money that is available for the education of children with special needs. Early Intervention services will be billed to your insurance company. The Department of Public Health covers many costs that are not paid by your insurance company including deductibles and co-payments. The Department of Public Health also covers the cost of services in the event that you are without insurance for your child. No matter what your financial situation, screening and assessment of every child is provided at no direct cost to you. Depending on your family size and income, your Early Intervention program will determine if there is an annual cost participation fee to receive services.
How do I know if my child is at risk?
Eligibility for EI services is determined by an eligibility evaluation performed by a transdisciplinary team, exercising sound judgment, and using a developmental inventory scale approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Only certified Early Intervention programs can determine eligibility. There are two categories of eligibility for EI services:
1. Children with established risk or established developmental delays: This category includes children who have a medical condition such as Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, or Cerebral Palsy, and children who display a moderate delay in one or more developmental domains.
2. Children at risk for development delays or disorders: This category includes children with prenatal disease or birth trauma, premature birth or low birth weight, and children who experience environmental problems such as inadequate nutrition, lead poisoning, homelessness, or parental substance abuse.
How does South Bay Early Intervention work?
First, a referral is made to Early Intervention. You can do this by contacting South Bay's Intake department at 1-800-244-4691. Then you will receive a call to set up a convenient time to meet and gather information to determine eligibility. This is called a "screening" and an Early Intervention Specialist will come to your home or a location of your choice. At this meeting, the EI program will be fully explained to you. Following the screening, a second visit will occur to do an eligibility assessment of your child. Again, we will come to your home or a preferred location. Your family will be assigned a Service Coordinator who will be in charge of making sure that your child's and family's needs are being met. Your Service Coordinator will listen to your concerns, determine what services you need, and help connect or refer you to the needed supports. The last step after the assessment is to write and Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) that will help your family and the program identify the outcomes you would like to work towards and the services that will help meet your child's and family's needs.
What is an Individualized Family Service Plan?
Once your child and family are found to be eligible for Early Intervention, an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is written. The IFSP is an important document that is at the heart of Early Intervention services and is developed in partnership with caregivers, EI staff, and others you may want to include. Together, we create a plan that includes the goals and services that will be part of your EI experience. We believe that no one knows your child as well as you and therefore, you are a key partner in creating the plan. You will be asked to identify your child's strengths and concerns. You will also be asked to identify when, where, and how often you would like services for your child. The IFSP also includes steps we will take to assist you and your child in the transition from EI when your child turns three.
What happens at age 3?
Some children will leave the program before age three, and some at age three. Some children continue to need help after they leave Early Intervention. You need to be aware of services that may be of help to you. The program will work closely with your local public school special education department and preschool team to ensure that your child continues to receive necessary services without interruption. The program will also work to transition your child and family to other appropriate services in the event that your child does not require public school services.
Other questions?
The South Bay Early Intervention team will be more than happy to answer all of your questions. If for any reason we cannot help you, then we will try our best to assist you in finding the answers you need. Please contact a local program or South Bay's Intake Department at 1-800-244-4691 for more information about receiving Early Intervention services. You may also call the statewide information, resource, referral, and support network for families. The toll free number is 1-800-905-TIES (8437).