Early Intervention

The Philadelphia Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program is an entitlement program for infants and toddlers between the ages of birth to 3 years of age. Anyone can make a referral to Early Intervention. All referred children will receive a developmental assessment, and many will also receive a multidisciplinary evaluation. All eligible children will be assigned a service coordinator, and all Early Intervention Services are delivered at no cost to the family.

VIEW THE BROCHURE

What You Need

The following information is needed in order to make a referral to the Infant Toddler Early Intervention program:

• child’s first and last name
• parent’s first and last name
• parent’s address and phone number
• child’s date of birth
• child’s gender
• the medical assistance number (if receiving MA)
• and the child’s Social Security number (if known)

Regular Developmental Screening

Children who are evaluated and determined not eligible for services may be eligible for at-risk tracking if they meet the following criteria:

• birth weight under 3.3 pounds
• NICU graduate
• elevated blood lead level
• referral from the City of Philadelphia Department of Human Services
• prenatally exposed to substances
• experiencing homelessness

Children who are followed in the “at-risk” tracking program receive regular developmental screenings until age three. A case will be opened for every child who meets any of the at-risk criteria.

Children who are ages 3-5 that have developmental delays are served in the Preschool Early Intervention Program. In Philadelphia this program is called Elwyn ELS. To make a referral to the Elwyn ELS program call 215-222-8054.

For additional information about IDS’ Philadelphia Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program, please call the program intake line at 215-685-4646 or email Birthto3EI@phila.gov.

Visit the IDS Resources Page to learn about the additional array of resources available for children with intellectual disabilities.

Resources

Below you can find a series of resources available in the categories of General IDS Resources, Adult Services, and Children’s Services. To access each category’s list of available resources, simply click on the headings below.

Employment 1st, Employment Now!

“Employment 1st, Employment NOW!” focuses on core values, beliefs, tools, strategies, tips, and techniques, that will move employment forward in our region. The emphasis is on current legislation and how they will impact employment services in Philadelphia and beyond.

More and more people are hearing and understanding the message – having a job is a huge part of realizing personal satisfaction and community inclusion. Earning money, contributing to the community, opportunities for social interaction and increasing social capital are all key aspects of how employment can be an important part of building and enjoying an everyday life.

Realizing employment outcomes for everyone and creating a ‘culture of employment’ requires collaboration and partnership. What is a culture of employment? It is a belief that people with disabilities belong in the community workforce, earning a living, and a commitment to employment outcomes and the resources to “Make Employment Happen.”

Visit our Resources page to view the employment resources we have available.

Current Initiatives

IDS is proud to be involved in a number of programs that seek to provide assistance to individuals with intellectual disabilities. You can learn about the current initiatives below. Click the link to access each initiative’s web page with even more information.

Communication Champions

Well, of course everyone communicates . . .right? But as we know, not everyone communicates using words. Even then it’s hard to understand what someone is trying to communicate. And isn’t that really the definition of communication?
Learn more about the Communication Champions program

Employment 1st, Employment Now!

“Employment 1st, Employment NOW!” focuses on core values, beliefs, tools, strategies, tips, and techniques, that will move employment forward in our region. The emphasis is on current legislation and how they will impact employment services in Philadelphia and beyond.
Learn more about the Employment 1st, Employment Now! program

LifeSharing

LifeSharing is an alternative living arrangement that places individuals with intellectual disabilities in Philadelphia of all ages within a caring household designed to provide a supportive environment to facilitate community integration and individual enrichment. LifeSharing is recognized as both a close personal relationship and a place to live. LifeSharers offer individuals the opportunity to be part of a family, and to participate in community life.
Learn more about the LifeSharing program

Children’s Services

DBHIDS understands the earlier we provide supports, the faster we are able to provide professional care as a community, and assist children in participating in their communities. We do this by partnering with city agencies, including the criminal justice, housing, school, and child welfare systems, as well as the general public with behavioral health issues, the faster we are able to provide professional care as a community.

This requires paying attention to social determinants of health, which include the availability of support, experiences of trauma, access to behavioral health care, educational and economic opportunities, and the social and physical environment. We do this by partnering with city agencies including the criminal justice, housing, school, and child welfare systems, as well as the behavioral health treatment system and the general public.

Early Intervention Services

The Philadelphia Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program is an entitlement program for infants and toddlers between the ages of birth to 3 years of age who have or are at risk for having a developmental delay. IDS coordinates this program in Philadelphia County and reports to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning who also provides the funding for this program. Anyone can make a referral to Early Intervention and all referred children will receive a developmental assessment and many will also receive a multidisciplinary evaluation. Eligible children will be assigned a service coordinator and all Early Intervention Services are delivered at no cost to the family.
Learn More About the Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program

Transition Planning

The purpose of Transition Planning for individuals with an intellectual disAbility, is to facilitate a successful transition for young people from school to adult life. While it is essential that transition planning occur for all students 14 and older, there are things families can do to prepare their child for a successful transition throughout the various stages of their lives.
Learn More About the Various Resources Available

Visit the IDS Resources Page to learn about the additional array of resources available for children with intellectual disabilities.