What Is Infant and Toddler Intervention

Infant and Toddler Intervention helps children with developmental delays and disabilities reach the best outcomes later in life. Infant and Toddler Intervention describes a set of services that supports a child’s learning and growth. It is sometimes called “early intervention” because the services are delivered early in life, before age three. Another name used for these services is “Part C,” because that is the how the federal law defines the services.
 
In the first three years, children grow rapidly across the four main areas of development. These areas are:

• Motor (physical)
• Communication and language
• Social and emotional
• Cognitive

 
Eligible children receive Infant and Toddler Intervention services during this critical time of growth. Qualified professionals work with the child’s family to determine whether the child is eligible, and then develop a service plan and work on specific areas of development. The Individual Family Service Plan may include:

• Speech, language and communication therapy
• Family support and strategies to help a child’s development
• Occupational and/or physical therapy
• Social and emotional support services

High-quality intervention can make an important difference for a child with a development delay or disability. The services can change the child’s developmental path. Some children reach the same developmental levels as others their age as a result of receiving early intervention.

Here is one family’s story about early intervention: “I am currently receiving early intervention services. Our daughter was born at 26 weeks 5 days and 1 pound 3.5 oz. She is almost 20 months old actual age and is developing really well. I credit early intervention with helping to get her to where she is!” - Metro Parent

 
These resources offer more information about intervention and how it can help a child:
    

• PACER Center for parent information and advocacy: www.pacer.org
• Learn the Signs. Act Early: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/index.html 

 
For more information about getting help for a child, visit our Get Help for a Child page.