Early Intervention's Coaching model
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Do you have questions or concerns about your child’s development or does your child have a developmental disability? Would you like to learn if your child could receive services? There is a program in Virginia that can provide you with the support you need. Children birth through age two (until a child’s third birthday) may be eligible for early intervention services with The Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia. You can request that your child be screened to see if he/she is eligible for services, to do this contact your Central Point of Entry.
Accessing Early Intervention Services
Each locality in Virginia has a “central point of entry,” this is the location you call in your community to request a screening. Once the call has been placed to your local Infant & Toddler Connection, They will work with your family to Determine if your child is eligible for services. This is often called an eligibility determination.
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Never be afraid to approach your child’s pediatrician with your concerns. Early Intervention services provide your child the best opportunity to reach their full potential and help prepare you to best support them in their development. The earlier you approach your pediatrician with your concerns, the earlier services can begin.
Early Intervention services in the state of Virginia follow a coaching model. The coaching model is a family-centered model of intervention where therapists guide parents through the problem-solving process to attain self-identified goals for their child. This means that providers and therapists will work with parents and caregivers to provide techniques and skills to help their child achieve their goal in the natural environment of their own home. These strategies can be applied to mealtime, bath time, story time, virtually anything in the child’s life can be manipulated to be therapeutic for his or her development. Parents are encouraged to engage with providers to continue building on their child's achievements. The goal of the coaching model is to empower parents and caregivers to continue being the best teacher they can be and to continue building on the needs of the child.
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