FAQs on Early Intervention Birth-3 Services
Who is eligible for Early Intervention (EI) services?
Any child under the age of 36 months, who resides with a Washington resident and has a 25% delay or shows a 1.5 standard deviation below his or her age in one or more of the following developmental areas:
- Cognitive Development
- Physical development, including vision, hearing, and fine and gross motor skills
- Communication development
- Social or emotional development, and
- Adaptive development
Who can refer a child to EI?
Anyone who has a concern about a child’s development may make a referral. This includes parents, guardians, foster parents and family members. Professionals such as pediatricians, other physicians, social workers, nurses, child care providers, or others who have contact with a child can also make a referral for EI services. If someone other than the child’s parents makes the referral, the parents will be contacted for their permission before any action is taken.
How do I refer a child?
Contact Community Health Access Program (CHAP) (external) , phone: 206-284-0331 or toll-free: 1-800-756-543. You will be asked for basic information, such as the name, address and telephone number of the family, along with the reason for the referral and whether the person making the referral has spoken with the family about their concerns.
What happens when I call CHAP?
A CHAP Family Resource Coordinator (FRC) will provide information about EI services so that the family can choose whether or not they want to continue to pursue EI. The CHAP FRC will help the family identify the names of EI provider agencies based on the family’s unique needs and assist them with contacting the EI agencies.
Who will conduct the evaluation of my child’s development?
The evaluations are conducted by at least 2 properly certified or licensed professionals (therapists, teachers, nurses and other specialists) who have training and experience in the development of infants and toddlers. If you already have recent evaluations that were completed by a properly licensed or certified professional, those results can be considered as part of the evaluation to determine eligibility for EI.
What is an IFSP and why do I need it?
An Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) is a written plan that is developed by your family, the EI specialists and others important in your child’s life. Your IFSP will be the roadmap that identifies where you and your child are starting from and where you plan to go. You may decline any service and still choose to participate in others listed on your IFSP. You and your FRC will check it every so often to make sure that you and your child are progressing toward your goals, making adjustments as needed.
Will I have to pay for EI services?
EI services and supports are paid for by various public and private funding sources. No IFSP service can be denied because your family cannot afford it. In King County, parents’ participation in payment for services is limited to assigning their insurance to the EI provider in order that the provider can bill for EI services. Most insurance companies require co-pays and/or deductibles. Co-pays and deductibles cannot be paid for with Washington State Part C funds and must be paid for by parents.
What if I have a complaint about or do not agree with my child’s evaluation or the IFSP services that my child receives?
You have rights and protections to resolve disagreements related to your EI services. Those rights are called Procedural Safeguards.
How do I contact the Early Intervention Program Manager?