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The Early Intervention (EI) program of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) provides a range of supportive and therapeutic services to over 37,000 children with developmental delays and recognized disabilities below the age of three per year. The aim of the program is to reduce the likelihood and severity of life long disabilities.
Research indicates that children do better when therapists coach and support the family in activities that will enhance a child's therapeutic plan, especially during the time between visits from the therapist. In February of 2006 DOHMH adopted "Families as Partners" (FAP), an initiative that emphasizes parental and other caregiver involvement and systematic collaboration between families and service providers.
The Fund for Public Health in New York (FPHNY) partnered with DOHMH and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine to design and implement monitoring tools and procedures to assess family and provider adherence to FAP guidelines and principles. Monitoring tools have helped gauge the response and satisfaction of families and identify performance improvement opportunities for provider agencies, EI intervention workers, and for the FAP program itself. Continuing work on FAP integration aims to increase EI provider use of cost-effective, evidence-based interventions that involve families in a child’s treatment plan.
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The Early Intervention Program is part of a national effort initiated by Congress in 1986 through the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, Part C).
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Early Intervention serves children and their families through the provision of evaluations, appropriate therapies, service coordination and other services. The earlier children get help for developmental delays and disabilities the better their chances of reaching their full potential.
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