Who is Eligible for Early Intervention?
Children under the age of three who live in Pennsylvania are eligible for Infant & Toddler Early Intervention and children who are three years of age and older (to the age of beginner) may also be eligible to receive early intervention.
Infants and toddlers are eligible for early intervention when they have:
- a significant delay in one or more areas of development
- a specialist's determination that there is a delay even though it doesn't show up on the assessments (called informed clinical opinion)
- known physical or mental conditions which have a high probability for developmental delays.
In Bucks County, Infant Toddler Early Intervention is a variety of agencies working together with families to provide Early Intervention services for children. Early Intervention services help young children grow and develop and support their families in caring for them. Children from birth to three years of age who are eligible will receive early intervention supports and services from Birth to Three Programs across the County. In Pennsylvania the Office of Child Development and Early Learning part of the Department of Public Welfare oversees each County's Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Program. For additional information about Infant Toddler Early Intervention in Pennsylvania view OCDEL at www.dpw.state.pa.us and www.pde.state.pa.us/early_childhood/.
Referral
While all children grow and change at their own rate, some children can experience delays in their development. If you have concerns about how your infant or toddler is growing and learning, the first step is to call an Early Intervention Service Coordinator at a Base Service Unit in your area. An Early Intervention Coordinator will talk with you about your child and listen to your concerns. The Early Intervention Coordinator will assist you through the process to determine whether your child is eligible for Early Intervention.
Please refer to the list below for the Base Service Unit which serves the area in which you reside and contact the corresponding agency:
If you are not sure which Base Service Unit to contact, call the Bucks County Early Intervention Coordinator at 215-442-0760 ext 231.
Penn Foundation
Early Intervention Services
519 South 5th Street, Suite 100
Perkasie, PA 18944
Phone: 267-517-3650
http://www.pennfoundation.org
Lenape Valley Foundation
Early Intervention Services
500 North West Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
Phone: 215-345-5300 ext. 5402 or 267-893-5402
http://www.lenapevf.org
Northwestern Human Services
Early Intervention Services
2260 Cabot Blvd West
Suite 100
Langhorne, PA 19047
Phone: 215-949-3230
http://www.nhsonline.org
The Bucks County Intermediate Unit # 22
Early Intervention information and referral on behalf of children age three to five years who live in Bucks County.
Questions or concerns about how a preschool age child, three to five years old is growing and learning or may have special needs should call the Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22, Early Childhood Services Program at 1-800-770-4822, extension 1716. For more information about the BCIU go to http://www3.bucksiu.org, Educational Services, Early Childhood Services.