Wichita Falls, TX 76302
940.322.0771
Early Childhood Intervention
Mission Statement To work in partnership with families and communities to help families of young children birth to age three with developmental delays have the resources, services, and supports they need to reach their goals. Values As an employee of the Early Childhood Intervention Program, I make the following commitments:
What is Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)? Children grow and learn, or develop, a great deal during their first three years. Although each child is special and grows and learns at his or her own pace, some children need extra help. This extra help is called early childhood intervention, or ECI. There are ECI programs all over Texas that help babies and toddlers, ages birth to three, with disabilities or delays in their development. They help your child during the first three years of life. This can help make a difference.
How can the Early Childhood Intervention Program help my family? ECI promotes a child's development. Staff from the Rehab Center's ECI program will work with your child and teach your family how to help your child reach his or her potential through education and therapy services. We know it may be hard for a busy family with many challenges to focus on their child's development. So, ECI coordinates services for the child enrolled in ECI and helps members of the family if it will help the child's development.
What are ECI services? Services written in a family's plan are activities needed to help their child learn and grow. Each family will have a different plan, according to their child's needs. Services help children learn basic skills as part of their family's daily routines.
Services for children could include:
How will I know if my child needs ECI services? A team will evaluate your child. The team will include you and ECI staff with different professional backgrounds, such as education or occupational therapy. Together, you will look at your child's strengths and needs. The team will decide if your child is eligible for ECI services.
Where are ECI services provided? Services are provided in home and community settings with other children according to each child's individual needs. These settings are called your child's natural environments. ECI must provide support so your child's services can be provided where he or she lives, learns and plays. In this way, your child's intervention will help him participate in the same activities that all children enjoy. Other places may be considered if the team determines your child's services cannot be satisfactorily achieved in the natural environment with ECI support. Staff from the Rehab Center's ECI Program travel to ten ocunties to work with families and children. Those counties are: Archer, Baylor, Clay, Foard, Hardeman, Jack, Montague, Wilbarger, Young and Wichita. How do I know if my child is eligible for ECI services? The stages babies and toddlers go through are made up of different skills, such as walking and talking. These skills, or developmental milestones, usually happen by certain ages. A child with developmental delay is behind others the same age in one or more of the following areas:
Children can be eligible for ECI servcies even if they do not have a developmental delay, but their sensory-motor or behavioral patterns are not typical.
Will I have to contribute to the cost of ECI services? Evaluation, assessment, development of an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP), service coordination and administrative services are provided at no cost to families. Under the ECI Family Cost Share System, families are assigned a monthly cost share amount based on ability to pay and a sliding fee scale. Families who receive Medicaid, CHIP, food stamps, SSI or TANF benefits, and children with auditory or visual impairments who are eligible for services from ECI and the public schools, will not be assessed a cost share. For other families, the assigned monthly cost share is based on income adjusted for expenses such as child care and medical care. Families who are determined to have an ability to pay will be required to share in the cost of some of the services that are provided. You will be told your cost share amount and will be asked to sign an agreement before services subject to cost share are provided. The Rehab Center's ECI program will ask your permission to bill your health insurance for services in your IFSP which are covered by your policy. If your insurance reimburses for any services provided during a month, you will have a cost share of $0 for that month.
Early is BEST Early intervention makes a difference in the lives of children and families. Anyone can refer. If you have concerns about your child's development, please call the North Texas Rehabilitation Center's ECI program at (940) 322-0771. Call the DARS Inquiries Line
1-800-628-5115 to locate ECI Services across Texas TDD/TTY: 1-866-581-9328
Links: Public Hearing for Families Information What are the Benefits? Research shows that growth and development are most rapid in the early years of life. The earlier problems are identified, the greater the chance of eliminating or minimizing them. Early intervention responds to the critical needs of children and families by:
Over 37,000 children residing in Texas who have disabilities or delays in development receive ECI services each year. ECI determines eligibility for children under age 3 based on:
Who Provides the Services? ECI program staff include service coordinators, early intervention specialists, teachers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers, psychologists, nurses, and nutritionists.
How to Refer? Anyone can refer. A referral to ECI can be based on a family's concerns and questions or professional judgment. Call to make a referral or request more information. To learn if your child could benefit from our program, call us to arrange an evaluation. North Texas Rehabilitation Center (940)-322-0771 |
