Early Intervention FAQs

Families or providers can contact us via email (mswanson@encompassfss.net) or through our contact form. All Early Intervention referrals must start at the Southeast Human Service Center. We can complete the referral form with you and submit it to the South East Human Service Center or get you the information you need to make the referral yourself.

Anyone can make a referral for Early Intervention services—parents, caregivers, and other providers like occupational therapists (OTs) can refer directly. A physician’s referral is not required.

No, our Early Intervention services are free to families. If the child qualifies and the family chooses, we can help them access Medical Assistance, which may cover direct therapies and other related medical expenses.

A child can qualify for Early Intervention services through one of the following criteria:

• 25% delay in two areas of development

• 50% delay in one area of development

• Medical diagnoses such as Down Syndrome, cleft lip, etc. (See Full List)

Prematurity: Specific criteria include factors such as low birth weight and birth before 32 weeks (See Full List)

Once a referral is submitted, the following steps take place:

• Referral Submission: We send the referral form to the South East Human Service Center, where it goes to the Developmental Disabilities Unit.

• Case Manager Assignment: A Case Manager is assigned to the family and contacts them within the first week to set up an initial meeting. This person is referred to as your

• Service Coordinator.

• Choosing an EI Provider: During the meeting, the Case Manager/Service Coordinator provides the family with their Early Intervention provider options. Once the family selects a provider, that provider will reach out to the family to schedule the evaluation.

• Eligibility Determination and IFSP Creation: After the evaluation, the Case Manager reviews the results and organizes an eligibility team meeting. If the child is eligible, an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) is created with the family to outline their child's support plan.

The entire process, from referral to creating the IFSP, must be completed within 45 days. Here’s a general timeline:

• 1st Week: Case Manager/Service Coordinator meets with the family or schedules the meeting.

• 2nd-3rd Week: Information is sent to the chosen Early Intervention Provider, who assigns an evaluation team and schedules the evaluation.

• 3rd-4th Week: Evaluation is completed and sent back to the Case Manager/Service Coordinator for eligibility determination.

• 5th-6th Week: An IFSP meeting is held to create the family’s individualized service plan.

The Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is a personalized plan designed to support families and children in early intervention. The IFSP is created by a team that includes parents or caregivers, the Service Coordinator, the Early Interventionist, and any other individuals the family chooses to invite. This plan serves as a collaborative roadmap to help families and professionals work together to achieve meaningful outcomes for the child and family.

The IFSP focuses on identifying the family’s concerns, priorities, and resources. It is developed with the understanding that parents are the child’s most important resource, and the best way to support young children is by building on the family’s strengths. The plan outlines specific goals, or "outcomes," that the family and team hope to achieve for the child, as well as any outcomes for the family itself.

At the IFSP meeting, the team discusses important information, including:

• The child’s evaluation and assessment results

• Information from the routine based interview

• The family’s goals and priorities

The plan documents:

• The early intervention services that will best support the child and family

• Details about when, where, and how services will be delivered

• Strategies for incorporating outcomes into daily family routines and activities

The outcomes are written in collaboration with the family and organized based on what is most important to them. These outcomes reflect changes the family hopes to see in their child or their own routines and activities, ensuring that the plan is tailored to their unique needs.

The IFSP is central to early intervention, serving as a guide for families and professionals as they work together to support the child’s development and the family’s goals.

The focus of early intervention is about supporting caregivers in their every day activities. The role of the early interventionist is to recognize and expand on the caregiver’s strengths to promote confidence and competence. During your home visits, your early interventionist may provide suggestions, resources, and developmental information. Their main objective is to address the outcomes that were written at the IFSP, observe, and focus attention during those routines. Your early interventionist will provide coaching strategies and feedback to affirm parent competencies and elevate parent-child interactions.

Yes, there are many local and national resources available. Check out our resources page to learn more.