Early Steps Program
What is Early Steps?
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Is my child eligible?
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Eligibility and Screening
Intervention services are available to eligible infants and toddlers from birth to 36 months with developmental delays. A few things must happen before your child is enrolled in the program.
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A referral must be submitted, by either the parents, caregivers or physican and the child is found eligible.
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Your child is eligible if there is an established condition that places them at risk of developmental delay - see established conditions list
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Your child is eligible if the child has certain documented physical or mental at risk conditions.
What happens once eligible?
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Initial Intake and Evaluation
The local Early Steps office will receive all the information including referral and a service coordinator is assigned to oversee the process of enrollment. The following things will occur once you've been assigned one.
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An evaluation and/or assessment will have to be performed with typicall the service coordinator, the family and two professionals
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An Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is created.
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Once IFSP is created the team will meet and conduct the entry CHild Outcome Summary which is designed to measure the child's skills in the following areas.
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Positive social-emotional skills
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Acquisition and use of knowledge and skills (including early language, communication and literacy)
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Use of appropriate behaviors to meet their needs (including taking care of basic needs and integrating motor skills to complete tasks such as dressing and feeding).
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What happens then?
3
Intervention Services
Once the previous two steps are completed then the Intervention services can begin on a scheduled basis previously discussed between the caregivers and the ITDS (Infant Toddler Development Therapist)
Every 6 months the child and IFSP are reviewed to ensure progress or whether corrective measures need to be made to the plans.
When the time is right an Exit COS will be completed as a way for the child to transition out of the Program, but not without the tools and activities for continued developmental success.
RESOURCES & LINKS
HOJA DE RUTA DE INSCRIPCION
What to expect from enrollment
HELP STRAND 0-3
Assessment for Early Head Start
EARLY STEPS
John Hopkins All Children's Hospital
FLORIDA EARLY STEPS PROGRAM
Florida Department of Health
EARLY STEPS BAY AREA
University of South Florida
ASQ-3 - AGES & STAGES QUESTIONNAIRE
A Parent-Completed Child Monitoring System