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SERVICE COORDINATION SERVICES
NYC's #1 Service Coordination agency
REFERRAL
In New York City, parents and legal guardians have the right to refer their child to the Early Intervention Program if they have concerns about their child's development. A referral can be made when a child from birth to age three is experiencing, or is suspected of having, delays in areas such as communication, motor skills, cognition, social-emotional development, or adaptive skills. Parents do not need a doctor's referral to begin the process and may contact the Early Intervention Program directly to request an evaluation. Parent's may also contact an agency directly to make for referral. Once a referral is made, the child may receive a multidisciplinary evaluation to determine eligibility for services. This self-referral option helps ensure that families can access developmental supports as early as possible, allowing concerns to be addressed during a critical period of a child's growth and development.
For more information, parents can visit the New York City Early Intervention Program through NYC Early Intervention Program.
What is Early Intervention
What is Early Intervention
The Early intervention Program in New York City provides home and community-based services and support to children under the age of three who qualify. Services are designed to help children under the age of three who have developmental delays and are found eligible for participation in the program. Services include Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Special Education, Social Work, Applied Behavioral Analysis, Speech/Feeding therapy, as well as Family Training. Early Intervention services are provided at no cost to families, and are available to children from birth to age three years old who live in New York. Additionally, families have the right to choose the provider of their choice and can change providers at any time.
Eligibility
Eligibility
To determine if your child is eligible for Early Intervention in New York, they will first need to be referred to the program and assigned a Service Coordinator. The Service Coordinator will contact the family, inform the parents/caregivers of their rights and help the child get set up with evaluations conducted by a team of professionals. The evaluations will assess all domains of development in areas such as communication, gross/fine motor skills, sensory processing, cognition and social-emotional development. If the evaluators determines that your child has a delay or disability in one or more areas, they can be found eligible for Early Intervention services.
Individualized Family Service Plan
Individualized Family Service Plan
Once eligibility is determined, a team of professionals will work with you and your child to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). This plan will outline the specific services and supports that your child will receive, as well as the long and short-term goals that will be addressed in order for your child to meet their milestones.
Initial Service Coordination
Initial Service Coordination
In New York City's Early Intervention Program, the Initial Service Coordinator (ISC) is the family's primary contact from the time a child is referred to Early Intervention until the first Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meeting is completed. Their role is to help families navigate the eligibility and evaluation process and understand their rights.
Key responsibilities include:
Explaining the Early Intervention Program, parental rights, safeguards, and the evaluation process.
Making initial contact with the family and ensuring information is provided in the family's preferred language or communication mode when possible.
Helping parents select an approved evaluation agency and coordinating evaluations and screenings needed to determine eligibility.
Gathering insurance and Medicaid information and helping families apply for benefits for which they may qualify.
Coordinating with other agencies or providers already involved with the child and family, with parental consent.
Reviewing evaluation results with the family and helping them understand the findings.
Preparing the family for the IFSP meeting by discussing priorities, concerns, resources, service options, and who will participate in the meeting.
Informing parents that they may choose an Ongoing Service Coordinator (OSC) at the IFSP meeting, who may be the same person or someone different.
In practical terms, the ISC's main job is to get your child from referral through evaluation and eligibility determination and help develop the first IFSP. Once the IFSP is established, an Ongoing Service Coordinator typically takes over responsibility for making sure services are actually delivered and monitored.
If you're dealing with a specific issue involving an Initial Service Coordinator in NYC (for example, delays, lack of communication, evaluation scheduling, or disagreements about their duties), I can explain what they are and are not required to do under the regulations.
Ongoing Service Coordination
Ongoing Service Coordination
In New York City's Early Intervention Program, the Ongoing Service Coordinator (OSC) takes over after your child's first Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is developed. While the Initial Service Coordinator helps get your child evaluated and eligible, the OSC's primary responsibility is to implement and monitor the IFSP and make sure services actually happen.
Key duties of an OSC include:
Serving as your family's single point of contact for Early Intervention services.
Arranging and assigning approved providers (such as speech, occupational, physical, or special instruction therapists) to deliver the services listed in the IFSP.
Coordinating schedules and addressing barriers that might affect service delivery.
Monitoring whether services begin on time and continue as authorized.
Coordinating communication among therapists, medical providers, daycare programs, and other agencies involved with your child.
Making sure six-month reviews and annual IFSP evaluations are completed.
Helping modify the IFSP when your child's needs or family priorities change.
Providing information about advocacy resources and family supports.
Assisting with insurance and Medicaid documentation related to Early Intervention services.
Planning and coordinating your child's transition out of Early Intervention at age 3, including referral to preschool special education services when appropriate.
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