Early Intervention Facts

What is Early Intervention?

Early Intervention consists of coaching, therapy, and routine-based services available to young children (ages 0-3) who may need extra support to live their best lives. These services are entirely free of charge and play a key role in the diagnosis and development of children with clinically measured developmental delays. Community Care Connections is a provider of Early Intervention services for multiple counties in Western PA, and we are here to help you on this journey.

Read on to learn more about Early Intervention services, Community Care Connections’ Early Intervention program, and how your child may qualify for these services.

Who is Eligible?

If you believe your child is experiencing delays in any of the following categories, they may be eligible for Early Intervention support:

• Cognitive Development
• Physical Development (including vision and hearing impairments)
• Communicative Development
• Social Development
• Emotional Development
• Adaptive Development

Referral Process

If you have concerns that your child has delays in development, contact your pediatrician or service coordination unit. In Pennsylvania, each county has a respective service coordination unit that manages all referrals submitted within that county. You will be assigned a service coordinator who will help you schedule an evaluation for your child to determine eligibility for an Early Intervention program.

The CONNECT Helpline is a great resource for Pennsylvania families to establish direct lines of communication with their local service coordination unit. Contact CONNECT at 1-800-692-7288 or by email at help@connectpa.net.

Provider Agencies

If your child is deemed eligible for Early Intervention services, your family will be referred to a local Provider Agency of your choosing. If a provider is not chosen, the referral will be sent to all provider agencies in your county. Once your provider is selected/assigned, your child will begin the therapy portion of the program, which includes strategies guided by the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) designed by field experts to help your child succeed in their area(s) of delay. Early Intervention services are conducted in your home or in community settings, such as childcare, preschools, local libraries, etc.

What Will This Cost?

In Pennsylvania, Early Intervention services are provided at no cost to the family.

We Are Here for You

Community Care Connections is a Provider Agency that services children and families in the following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Indiana, and Lawrence. The Infant-Toddler Therapy Services program offers a variety of tools, resources, and services for your child’s success. Our resident therapists will use their ability and expertise to ensure that your child receives the highest quality of care and support tailored specifically to their needs.

Community Care Connections services include:

• Physical Therapy
• Developmental Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech Pathology
• Nutritionist

Our therapists have experience in supporting children with a wide variety of diagnoses including, but not limited to:

• Apraxia
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Behavioral Disorders
• Brachial Plexus Injury
• Brittle Bone
• Cerebral Palsy
• Chromosomal Abnormalities
• Cleft Palate
• Developmental Delay
• Down Syndrome
• Drug Exposure/Addiction
• Feeding & Swallowing Concerns
• Feeding Tubes
• Fragile X
• Hip Dysplasia
• Hydrocephalus
• Low Birth Weight
• Metabolic Disorders
• Microcephaly
• Multiple Births (Twins, Triplets, Quadruplets)
• Multiple Congenital Anomalies
• Prader-Willi
• Prematurity
• Sensory Integration Dysfunction
• Speech Delay
• Spina Bifida
• Torticollis
• Traumatic Brain Injury

Here at Community Care Connections, your family will always be our top priority, and we strive to ensure our services meet the needs of you and your child.

Ready to Get Started?

For questions and inquiries, contact Nichole Merz M.Ed., Director of the Infant-Toddler Therapy Program, at 724-283-3198 or email us at nmerz@communitycareconnect.org.