INFORMATION FOR PROVIDERS
What Early Intervention?
Early Intervention is the program that helps children and families support, encourage and meet the developmental needs of their children from birth until the age of three.
Early intervention is mandated by Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C and is reauthorized by the federal government every three years.
How am I a part of early intervention?
Providers like pediatricians, nurses and therapists are often the first to notice signs of delayed development in children. You are often the providers that families come to first with questions or concerns about their child's development. When you recognize a child's development is not unfolding as expected or the child has a condition that is likely to result in developmental delays or disabilities, you become the entry way into the early intervention program by making a referral to the program.
How do I make a referral?
- Talk to the family about early intervention in DC
- Then you can do one of the following to link the family to early intervention:
a. You can call the DC Early Intervention program in the Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities Division at: 202-727-3665
b. Contact Rachel Brady at the Georgetown Center for Child and Human Development by phone 202-687-8628 or email rab9@georgetown.edu
c. You can fill out a Referral and Report Form and send it to: Intake at the Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities Division by phone: 202-727-5785 (English) or 202-727-5371 (Spanish), fax: 202-724-7230 or mail 717 14th Street, NW, Suite 1200 Washington, DC 20005
d. Call the 24 Child Find Phone Line at: 202-727-8300
e. Visit District of Columbia Public Schools website: and click on "Child Find"
What happens after I refer a family?
- The intake personnel contact the family to see if they would like to proceed with the process.
- A developmental evaluation of the child takes place, and it is determined if the child is eligible for early intervention services.
- If the child is eligible, a plan is created to decide what goals the family would like to work on over the next six months and what services are needed to meet those goals. This plan is called the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).
- Services begin and every six months the goals and plan are re-evaluated.
Where can I get more information about Early Intervention?
- Call the Infants and Toddlers Division 202-727-3665
- Call (202-687-8628) or email (rab9@georgetown.edu) Rachel Brady at the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development
- Visit these web sites
a. Zero to Three
b. NICHCY
c. US Department of Education, Office of Special Education
