Frequently Asked Questions for Pediatric Therapy Services

• I am concerned that my child may be delayed. Who do I contact to learn more about Early Intervention services?
  Each county has an Early Intervention program which may be reached directly. For the counties in which we provide services, the Early Intervention referral phone numbers are:
  Allegheny County- 412-885-6000 (Alliance for Infants and Toddlers)
  Armstrong-Indiana County- 724-545-1234 (Family Counseling Center) or 724-548-3451 (Armstrong-Indiana County)
  Beaver County- 724-891-2827 (Beaver County Base Service Unit)
  Butler County- 724-431-3748 (Center for Community Recources)
  Lawrence County - 724-658-3578 extension 609 (Marcie Mastrangelo, Human Services Center)
  Mercer County- 724-662-2230 (Central Intake Unit)
  
  You may also call the CONNECT phone number at 1-800-CONNECT to find contact information for all Early Intervention programs in Pennsylvania.

• How is Early Intervention funded? Does it go through my private insurance? Do I have to pay out of pocket?
  The Early Intervention program is an entitlement program through the federal government. Any child who is found eligible for services in entitled to receive Early Intervention services in their natural environment at no cost to the family. It is funded through government money so families do not need to pay out of pocket for services or go through their private insurances.
  
  
• Where do Early Intervention therapy services take place?
  Early Intervention services take place in a child's natural environment. This may be a child's home, daycare center, relative's home, or in the community. Early Intervention services are scheduled on days and times that are most convenient for families.
  
  
• How do I know if my child is eligible for Early Intervention services?
  Once the Early Intervention program is contacted, families are set up with a service coordinator who arranges for an independent assessment of each child to take place in each child's natural environment. The evaluation must look at all 5 areas of development (Personal-Social, Self-Help, Cognitive, Motor, and Communication Skills). There are three ways that a child may be eligible for services: 1. With a diagnosis with a high likelihood for delays 2. A score of 1.5 standard deviations below the mean or a 25% delay in any ONE area of development or 3. Clinical Opinion (i.e. the child did not present with criteria to meet #1 or #2, but the evaluation team feels the child will benefit from therapy in their clinical opinion).
  
  
• How often are therapy sessions held?
  Each child has unique needs, and the frequency and duration of services depend upon each child and family's individual needs. The primary goal of Early Intervention services is to show families what they can do throughout each day to help their children so that "therapy" is not just being done during actual treatment sessions, but is carried over throughout each day by the family as a part of their daily routines.
  
  
• How many therapy sessions will my child receive? How long will my child be able to receive services?
  Early Intervention services are available for children ages birth-three. Upon qualifying for services, a child is eligible for services for one year. If a child's family is satisfied with the progress a child has made, services may stop at any time. Upon being in the program for one year, a re-evaluation is conducted to determine if a child is still eligible for services. The eligibility criteria are the same as explained in question #4 above. If a child is found to be eligible again, they are eligible to receive services for one more year or until age three. The frequency and duration of sessions depends upon the individual needs of each child.
  
  
• What happens when my child turns 3?
  The Early Intervention program begins preparing for transition after age three when children first enter the program. As a child approaches his or her third birthday, a Transition Meeting is held with the local Intermediate Unit to discuss options for preschool settings and plan for a continuation of therapy services which may be needed for each child in a school-based setting.
  
  
• How can I find resources or talk to other families whose children have similar needs as my own?
  Pediatric Therapy Professionals, Inc. has an extensive resource library of books, videos, DVDs, etc. for families to utilize. We have developed a program in conjunction with Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania called the Pediatric Therapy Professionals Family Connections Program. This program helps to link parents and caregivers to other parents and caregivers who have had similar experiences so that they may talk or offer support.