early childhood intervention Español incluido. Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) Division for Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECI) eci4900 North Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78751 early childhood intervention eciTexas Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) programs serve families with children birth to 36 months with developmental delays or disabilities. ECI provides family support and specialized services to strengthen the family’s ability to access resources and improve their child’s development through daily activities. The state agency responsible for ECI services is the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). DARS contracts with local ECI programs to provide services throughout Texas. Los programas de Intervención Temprana en la Infancia (ECI) brindan servicios a las familias de niños con retrasos en el desarrollo o discapacidades, desde que nacen hasta los 36 meses. ECI ofrece apoyo para la familia y servicios especializados para que puedan obtener mejor acceso a los recursos y mejorar el desarrollo de sus hijos por medio de actividades diarias. El departamento estatal a cargo de los servicios de ECI es el Departamento de Servicios Auxiliares y de Rehabilitación (DARS). El DARS tiene contratos con programas locales de ECI para ofrecer servicios por todo el estado de Texas. ECI Program Name/Nombre del programa de ECI____________________________________________________ Program Director/Director del programa____________________________________________________________ Telephone/Teléfono ____________________________________________________________________________ ECI Service Coordinator/Coordinador de Servicios de ECI_____________________________________________ Telephone/Teléfono _____________________________________________________________________________ FAX__________________________________________________________________________________________ DARS Inquiries Line/Línea de Información del DARS 800-628-5115 TDD/TTY Line 866-581-9328/Línea TDD/TTY 1-866-581-9328 www.dars.state.tx.us/ecis Visit our web site for the most updated version of this Program Directory. Vaya a nuestro sitio web para ver la versión más reciente del Directorio de Programas. USING THIS DIRECTORY/ CÓMO USAR ESTE DIRECTORIO For more information, Using This Directory call the DARS Inquiries Line at 1-800-628-5115, About ECI ............................................Pages 2 - 4 1-866-581-9328 (TDD/TTY, for hearing impaired) Provides information about the Texas ECI system, including or visit the ECI Web Pages at eligibility, services provided, ECI’s unique service model and how families can find resources and more information. www.dars.state.tx.us/ecis ECI Programs by County ..................... Pages 8 - 27 Instructions are included on how to find services using this Written and Developed By: directory’s alphabetical list of counties. Each county lists the ECI program(s) serving that county, the program name, its Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative agency, telephone number used for referring to ECI, mailing Services (DARS) address, fax number, the program director’s e-mail address Division for Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECI) and website address if available. Policy and Support 4900 North Lamar Blvd. Austin, Texas 78751-2399 City to County Index ..........................Pages 28 - 42 To help find the county where a child resides, an index of cities and their counties is included in the directory. Cities are listed alphabetically. Para más información, Cómo usar este directorio llame a la Línea de Información del DARS al 1-800-628-5115, 1-866-581-9328 (TDD/TTY, para personas con Información sobre ECI ........................Páginas 5-7 Ofrece información sobre el sistema de ECI en Texas, incluso problemas de la audición) la elegibilidad, los servicios ofrecidos, el modelo único de ser- O vaya a la página web de ECI en vicio de ECI y cómo pueden encontrar las familias recursos www.dars.state.tx.us/ecis y más información.YOUR LOCAL ECI PROGRAM INFORMATION: Redactado y creado por: Programas de ECI por condado .......Páginas 8-27 Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Se incluyen instrucciones sobre cómo encontrar servicios Services (DARS) usando la lista alfabética de condados del directorio. Cada Division for Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECI) condado muestra el programa de ECI que presta servicios en Policy and Support ese condado, el nombre del programa, su agencia, el número de teléfono para envíos a servicios de ECI, la dirección postal, el 4900 North Lamar Blvd. número de fax, el correo electrónico del director del programa Austin, Texas 78751-2399 y el sitio web si lo hay. Índice por ciudad y su condado ...Páginas 28 - 42 El directorio también tiene un índice de ciudades y sus conda- dos para ayudarle a encontrar el condado donde vive un niño. Las ciudades aparecen por orden alfabético. Call the DARS Inquiries Line at 1-800-628-5115 1 ABOUT ECI What is ECI? Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) serves families with When should you refer? children, birth to 36 months, with developmental delays Refer as soon as you or the family has a concern about or disabilities. ECI partners with parents to develop the child’s development. A diagnosis is not needed to ways to help their children grow and learn. The state refer. State law requires that professionals refer agency responsible for ECI services is the Department children for services within two working days of of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). DARS identification of a suspected delay. contracts with local ECI programs to provide services throughout Texas. Why refer? ECI provides needed support to families regarding their child’s delay or disability. The earlier children with Whom should you refer? delays receive help, the better. Well designed, timely Refer Texas families, who have children under 36 months early intervention can enhance the child’s development, old with a suspected developmental delay or disability. provide support for the family, and provide long-term benefits for society. What are developmental delays? Developmental delays refer to when a child’s develop- ment lags behind established normal ranges for his or How much do services cost? Families may be charged on a sliding fee scale for some her age in any of the following areas: ECI services. All ECI screenings and evaluations are cognitive language or speech provided at no cost to families, however, families may be gross motor skills social or emotional asked for permission to bill their insurance. No child and fine motor skills self-help skills family will be turned away because of an inability to pay. What if a child has a medical diagnosis? How can you refer? Children also are eligible if they have a medically diag- Use this directory to locate the ECI program near the nosed physical or mental condition that has a high prob- family or call the DARS Inquiries Line at 1-800-628-5115. ability of resulting in delays and demonstrates a need for services. These conditions include, but are not limited to: What happens after you refer? Down syndrome and microcephaly After referral for ECI services, a child is evaluated by a other chromosomal failure to thrive team of professionals to determine eligibility for ECI abnormalities seizure disorders services. The team includes the child’s family and ECI sensory impairments, fetal alcohol syndrome program staff members who have professional experi- including vision and cerebral palsy ence in a variety of fields, such as child development, hearing education, motor therapy, speech-language pathology, or social work. If the child is not eligible for ECI services, What if a child’s development seems on target, staff will refer the family to other resources. but there are concerns? If a child is eligible for ECI services, as determined by Children who may perform within their appropriate a medical diagnosis, atypical development, or develop- age range on test instruments, but whose patterns of mental delays, program staff and the child’s family will development are notably different from their peers, are develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). also eligible. The IFSP outlines ongoing services for the child and the family. Services begin after the IFSP is developed and signed by the parent. 2 Call the DARS Inquiries Line at 1-800-628-5115 ABOUT ECI What is ECI’s unique service approach? What services does ECI provide? Parents and professionals work together as a team. ECI Services may include: Families know their child best. The team assesses the • family education and support child’s progress and develops a plan for services. • services from speech language pathologist occupational and/or physical therapists Services are convenient for families. Services are • audiology and vision services provided to families and children in familiar and com- • nursing and nutrition services fortable surroundings where children live, learn and play. • case management This may include the family’s home, child care center or other community settings. What is the ECI provider network? Children learn new skills through everyday ac- ECI services are offered in all Texas counties through tivities. Team members from a variety of professional contracts with more than 50 local community agencies disciplines work with the family to identify learning op- and organizations. portunities and to include intervention in their everyday activities such as bath time, meal time, or play time. What types of agencies