”SUPPORTING AND EMPOWERING FAMILIES”
Early Intervention Services are services
provided in the natural environment for
children ages birth to three years old. These
interventions are based around the child’s daily
routines and are determined by the family’s
needs and interests. The interventions are
designed to enable the young child to
participate more actively, independently and
successfully in a variety of settings. Intervention
specialists work with children and their families
to promote the child’s development in the
areas of cognition, communication, social,
motor and self-help skills.
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One early intervention specialist will be
your primary service provider with the
support of other specialists.
Families can access specialists including:
• Early Intervention Teacher
•
Speech Therapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Physical Therapist
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Teacher
• Audiologist
• Teacher of the Visually
Impaired
• Physical Impairment Teacher
• School Psychologist
The Early Intervention Process
The Evaluation:
When a child is referred for an evaluation, a
team of intervention specialists works with the
parents to develop an evaluation plan. The
information from the evaluation is used to
determine if the child qualifies for Early
Intervention Services.
 If the child qualifies, the team, including
the parents will work together to
develop an Individualized Family Service
Plan (IFSP).
 This plan is based on the family’s needs,
interests and priorities and is developed
around the child’s daily routines in their
natural environment.
Intervention:
Early intervention services will be provided
through home visits (or visits to the child’s
natural environment i.e. daycare).
 The team, including the parents will
select a primary service provider (PSP)this is the person the family will have
the most contact with.
 Other specialists will be available as
needed.
 The primary service provider will meet
regularly with the family to review
progress, discuss current needs and
concerns, problem solve and provide
strategies to use with the child.
 Each family is also provided with a
service coordinator who can be used as
a resource to access other services.
Role of the Early Intervention
Specialists
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Listen to parents‘ concerns and
respect parenting styles
Observe the child’s skills and
parent/child interactions
Problem solve and brain storm with
families to develop strategies that
can be incorporated into the child’s
everyday routines
Model and/or demonstrate
strategies to maximize the child’s
potential
Offer other resources and
suggestions to match the family
priorities
Role of the Parent/Caregiver
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Participate throughout each visit
Ask questions
Identify learning opportunities
within your daily routines
Practice skills during the visits and
continue to use them between visits
Share successes and frustrations
”SUPPORTING AND EMPOWERING FAMILIES”
Early Intervention Compared to
the Medical Model
Our Early Intervention
Specialists
Office Number 952-467-7371
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Our staff works within the child’s
natural environment
Our staff works with
parents/caregivers to develop
strategies which can be incorporated
into their everyday routines
Learning happens through
consistent experiences in the child’s
normal routines
The consistent caregivers in the
child’s life have the strongest impact
on their learning and development
Frequently Asked Questions
How often are services provided? This
is a decision made by the team, including
the parents. It varies depending on family
and child needs.
Where are services provided? The
parent component of the services is a vital
piece; however, services are provided where
ever the child spends his/her days.
How can we access services? Anyone
can refer a child to testing by calling Help
me Grow at 1-866-693-4769. If the testing
indicates the child is eligible, services will be
initiated.
Lisa Stiele: Early Intervention Teacher
lstiele@central.k12.mn.us
Central Public Schools
Early Intervention Services
“Supporting and Empowering Families”
Becky Streeter: Speech/Language
Pathologist
bstreeter@central.k12.mn.us
Ginny Garlock: Physical Therapist
ggarlock@swmetro.k12.mn.us
Bonnie Vos: Occupational Therapist
bvos@wm.k12.mn.us
We also have access to:
-Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of
Hearing
-Vision Impairment Teacher
-Audiologist
-Physical Impairment Teacher
-School Psychologist
Lindsay Woodard: Early Intervention
Coordinator
lwoodard@central.k12.mn.us
952-467-7359
Melanie Kray- Director of Special Education
mel.kray@central.k12.mn.us
952-467-7174
Lindsay Woodard: Early Intervention
Coordinator
lwoodard@central.k12.mn.us
952-467-7359