Early Intervention Services

What to Expect

Initially, an independent evaluator will be assigned by the Alliance for Infants and Toddlers. This evaluator will assess your child to determine if services are recommended. Depending on your child’s needs, one or more therapies or services will be coordinated and provided in your home or at another convenient setting such as daycare or grandma’s house. These therapies may include:
  • Physical therapy if there are concerns in the areas of gross motor skills or movement
  • Speech therapy if sound and or language formation is of concern, or if there are cognitive, feeding and or oral motor concerns.
  • Occupational therapy to help with feeding as well as sensory issues, or concerns with fine motor skills
  • Development instruction to help with behavioral , attention, or general overall development concerns
  • Social services to support the family
  • Hearing, Vision and Nutrition Services to address associated issues

Services Offered

The Children’s Institute offers a wide range of services to address your child’s specific needs. Whether your child needs one, or multiple services listed below, we provide these Early Intervention services at no cost to you through federally funded programs.
Physical Therapy (PT) focuses on activities that help children learn to move in the natural sequence from lying flat to rolling, sitting, crawling and beyond. Improving muscle coordination and strength can help to prepare children for healthy physical activity in their everyday life.
Speech/ Language Therapy Speech/ Language Therapy can help children develop and improve their language, cognition, and feeding abilities. The Speech Language Therapist incorporates purposeful play therapy into the family’s daily routine to; decrease frustration and improved social interaction, to encourage communication, to improve language skills and to decrease feeding issues by increasing oral motor and swallowing skills.
Occupational Therapy (OT) is dedicated to engaging children in activities that support the development of important life skills, such as feeding, dressing, which are integral for their daily routines. At the heart of OT is the understanding that for children, play is their primary work. Through play, they can enhance their cognitive, social and physical abilities and learn to interact with their surroundings, fostering independence along the way. Occupational therapy focuses on tailoring activities to each child’s unique needs and interests, ensuring that they remain motivated and engaged during their sessions.
Developmental Therapy focuses on a holistic assessment of the learning and attention skills that encourage a child’s cognitive development and improved social interaction. A Developmental Specialist works to assess and optimize the whole picture of a child’s development so they can build upon a child’s skills and interests while supporting the family in the process.

Getting Started

If you are concerned about your child’s development or would like to learn more about early intervention services, contact the CONNECT Hotline, at 800.692.7288.

You may also contact the Allegheny County Service Coordination Unit, The Alliance for Infants and Toddlers, at 412.885.6000, or by visiting www.afit.org.

As a parent or guardian, you have a choice to select The Children’s Institute as your provider for early intervention services.

Take Action

Not sure what the next step is? You can always call our Information Center to speak to a team member who can direct you to the support and answers you need.

Call Us: 412.420.2400

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