Early Intervention

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Early Intervention (EI) is part of Ohio’s Help Me Grow system of supports providing  services to families of eligible children under the age of three with a diagnosed condition or developmental delay. 

EI is grounded in the philosophy that young children learn best from familiar people in familiar settings. 

Every family served in EI will have a local EI team that consists of a service coordinator, service providers, and your family. 

Your EI team works with you in your home or other places you and your family spend time to develop a coordinated plan called an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). 

You and your EI team will work through your IFSP to learn to enhance your child’s learning and development. 

Anyone can refer a child to Early Intervention. Call (216) 930-3322 or (440) 389-3322, or click the button below. 

 

Early Intervention in Cuyahoga County

Bright Beginnings is the lead agency for EI in Cuyahoga County for child find, evaluation and assessment, development of the IFSP, procedural safeguards, and service coordination. 

How long is the EI process from referral to services?

The EI system has 45 calendar days from the date of the EI program referral to determine eligibility, complete the child and family-direct assessments, and develop the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). 

Once the IFSP has been developed, the EI service provider must begin services within 30 calendar days. 
45 days
How does the process work?

  1. REFERRAL - After a referral is made, a Help Me Grow Central Intake worker will contact the family to talk about the family needs and connect with the Early Intervention Service Coordinator (EISC) who will walk the family through the intake process.

  2. ELIGIBILITY - Information from medical reports and developmental evaluations are used to determine whether a child is eligible for Early Intervention.

  3. ASSESSMENT - The child assessment identifies the child’s strengths and needs across adaptive, cognitive, communication, physical, and social-emotional development. The family-directed assessment assists the EI team in learning about your family, daily activities, and your hopes and priorities for your child.

  4. INDIVIDUALIZED FAMILY SERVICE PLAN - The EISC will guide the family through the IFSP process, which is developed by the EI team including parents, provider(s), and service coordinator, and outlines the child’s current developmental status, family concerns, and priorities, specific goals, and services needed to achieve those goals.

  5. SERVICES – The EISC and service providers work closely with your family to help build your skills and confidence in supporting your child, through ongoing service delivery, transition from early intervention by age 3, and exit.
Members of the Cuyahoga County Early Intervention team can include:


From Bright Beginnings:

  • Service Coordinator

  • Licensed Social Worker

  • Dedicated Evaluator 

From the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities:

  • Developmental Specialist

  • Occupational Therapist

  • Physical Therapist

  • Speech/Language Pathologist

Other specialists:

  • Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant

  • Hearing Specialist

  • Registered dietician

  • Vision Specialist

  • And others as needed