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The Early Intervention Program (EIP) is a statewide program administered by the NYS Department of Health. The EIP provides many different types of services to infants and toddlers.

Children are eligible for the EIP if they are under three years of age and have a confirmed disability or developmental delay in one or more of the following areas of development: physical, cognitive, communication, social-emotional and/or adaptive.

If your child is under three years of age, you may contact the Nassau County Department of Health at (516) 227-8661 or the Suffolk County Department of Health at (631) 853-3100. To access EI services within New York City, contact the NYC Help Line at 311. You may also call our office and we will assist you in completing a referral to the Early Intervention Program.

MKSA can conduct evaluations either in your home or in our facility. A parent must be present at the evaluation.

All referred children receive a multidisciplinary evaluation to determine eligibility for services. The NYS definition of developmental delay means that a child has not attained certain milestones expected for the child’s age adjusted for prematurity. A developmental delay is a delay that has been measured by qualified personnel using appropriate diagnostic procedures which document:
– a 12-month delay in one functional area;
– 33% delay in one functional area or 25% in each of two areas;
– 2 standard deviations below the mean in one functional area or 1.5 standard deviation below the mean in each of two functional areas

The evaluation team or a member of the team will discuss with you their findings. The evaluation team must write an evaluation report and summary. If your child is eligible, an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is developed.

An Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is a written plan for the child’s and family’s services in the early intervention program that the family develops with a team of qualified personnel and the Early Intervention Official. The IFSP includes goals and strategies to address priorities and concerns.

Your family’s IFSP will include a statement of the following:
– Child’s present level of functioning
– Family’s resources, priorities and concerns related to child’s development
– Early intervention services needed to meet your child’s and family’s needs
– Where services will be provided
– Outcome or goals expected from services
– Strategies, activities that will lead to the outcomes

Available services include: Special Instruction, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Speech/Language Therapy, Feeding Therapy, Audiology services, PROMPT, Social Work services, Family Training, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Psychological services, Vision services and Service Coordination.

All services can be provided using any of the following service models:
– Home and community-based visits (family’s home, relative’s home, child care center, family day care, or other places parents go to with their children)
– Facility or center-based visits (where service provider works)
– Parent child groups (usually at an agency’s office or facility)
– Group developmental intervention (a group means two or more children who are eligible for EI services)

Service frequency and duration are determined at the EI/IFSP meeting. Since all services are individual, the amount and types of services will be written as per your child’s needs.

All service providers are licensed or certified New York State professionals. All early intervention providers must have a NYS early intervention approval letter in order to provide these services.

At various intervals depending on your municipality you will receive reports. IFSP review meetings are held every 6 months to review a child’s plan and create a new one for the next 6 months. Progress reports are reviewed at this time.

This should be reviewed with your child’s team and if appropriate, a request may be made.

The EI Program is a public program funded by New York State and local counties. Early Intervention services are provided at no out-of-pocket to families of eligible children. Health insurance may be accessed to pay for services in New York State.

Please see our transition planning page.

Strict confidentiality regulations (FERPA-Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act, HIPPA-Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) are adhered to in the EIP. No information is distributed without your consent.

Visit https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/0532/ for more information on New York State’s EI program.