Wayne County Children's Coaltion

While all children grow and change at their own rate, some children can experience delays in their development. A delay can sometimes be a cause for concern.
Ask yourself questions about how your young child:

• crawls, walks or sits
• communicates what is needed/wanted
• hears and sees
• relates and interacts with others
• thinks, learns and plays
• eats, dresses and cares for him/herself

If you have ANY concerns about how your child (birth to age 3) is growing and developing, call Wayne County’s Early Intervention Program now at (570) 253-9200.

If you have ANY concerns about how your child (age 3 – age 5) is growing and developing, call Wayne County Consortium for Early Intervention now at (570) 937-3065.

What is Early Intervention?

Early intervention in Pennsylvania is comprised of services and supports designed to help families with children who have developmental delays. Early intervention builds upon the natural learning that all children experience in their first few years of life. It is a process that promotes partnerships among parents, service providers and others closely involved with your child.
As the parent—the person who knows your child the best and the person who works with him or her every day—you are key to helping your child’s teachers and therapists determine what is working the best at encouraging your child to reach his or her goals. With your help, early intervention services and supports can enhance your child’s development by:

• Answering your questions about your child’s development
• Enhancing you child’s developmental and educational growth
• Enhancing your capacity to meet the developmental needs of your child throughout daily routines at home and in the community
• Supporting your child’s unique needs as he/she becomes more independent
• Possibly preventing the need for more intervention in the future
• Supporting communities to become more aware of the gifts and abilities of all its children

What are Early Intervention Services and Supports?

Early intervention services can include, among other things, information on how children develop, early childhood education and activities that can help your child to move his or her body, ideas for how your family can help your child at home and in the community, and plans designed to help you enhance your child’s growing and learning.
You are the expert about your child. The dreams, visions and hopes, recommendations or suggestions that you have for your child and family are uniquely yours. Only you know how these dreams and hopes can make a difference for your family, now and in the future. No one can guarantee that your dreams will come true, but sharing them with other members on your early intervention team allows others to know what is important to your family. This information will help your early intervention team to create meaningful individualized services and supports. With your input, early intervention will be provided in a family-centered way.

What Does “Family Centered” mean?

This means that your child’s services and/or supports are based upon the strengths and needs of your child. It is also based on the strengths and needs of your family and how they can enhance the development of your child. Services and supports are designed to respect your family concerns, interests, values and priorities.

How Do I Receive Services?

Anyone can make a referral. This includes parents, doctors, child care providers, agencies, etc. Initial information will be taken over the phone and, with the parents’ permission, a thorough review of a child’s development will be scheduled. The review will take place in a setting where the child is most comfortable, usually at home, and will use different types of play to determine his or her developmental level.

What Should I Expect?

During your first visit a trained teacher in a comfortable setting will work with your child to determine if he/she has any type of delay. If an issue is identified, Wayne County Early Intervention will work with your family to coordinate services designed to address any delays experienced by your child(ren).

What is the cost?

Early intervention services are available FREE of charge; there are no income guidelines and insurance is not necessary.