Infant Parent Program-Early Childhood Intervention
(Child & Family Services Division)

Frequently Asked Questions for Infant Parent Program-Early Childhood Intervention

An Affiliate of Texas Early Childhood Intervention What are ECI services? ECI services help children grow and learn. Although each child is special and grows and learns at his or her own pace, some children need extra help. This extra help is called early childhood intervention. IPP-ECI staff listens to a family’s concerns and works with them to plan services that can be incorporated into everyday routines.

Services for children birth to three years old, could include:

• screenings and assessments, or identifying your child's strengths, developmental needs and your family's concerns
• activities to develop learning and eating skills
• activities to help social and emotional development
• physical, occupational, speech and language therapy
• consultation with therapists
• assistive technology, or services and equipment designed or changed for special use by children with developmental delays

Services for families could include:

• education and counseling
• help finding needed social and health services
• support groups
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Why is early intervention important?

Research shows that growth and development are most rapid in the early years of life. The earlier problems are identified, the greater the chance of eliminating them. Early intervention responds to the critical needs of children and families by:

• promoting development and learning,
• providing support to families,
• coordinating services, and
• decreasing the need for costly special programs.
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How will I know if my child needs ECI services?

A team will evaluate your child. The team will include you and ECI staff with different professional backgrounds, such as education or occupational therapy. Together, you will look at your child's strengths and needs. The team will decide if your child is eligible for ECI services.

What is a developmental delay?
The stages babies and toddlers go through are made up of different skills, such as walking and talking. These skills, or developmental milestones, usually happen by certain ages. A child with developmental delay is behind others the same age in one or more of the following areas:

• cognitive development, or reasoning skills, such as knowing how to search for a lost toy or make a toy move
• physical development, such as crawling or picking up a small object
• language or speech, such as talking or communicating with others
• social or emotional skills, such as playing with others or expressing emotions
• self-help skills, such as eating, drinking or potty training

What if I’m concerned about my child’s behavior or how he moves his muscles?
Children can be eligible for ECI services even if they do not have a developmental delay or medical diagnosis but their sensory-motor or behavior patterns are not typical.

Where are ECI services provided?

IPP-ECI services are provided in home and community settings with other children according to each child’s individual needs. These settings are called your child’s natural environments. IPP-ECI must provide support so your child’s services can be provided where he or she lives, learns and plays. In this way, your child’s intervention will help him participate in the same activities that all children enjoy. Other places may be considered if the team determines your child’s services cannot be satisfactorily achieved in the natural environment.
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Who can make a referral?

All primary referral sources must refer a child under age three who may be in need of and/or qualify for comprehensive early intervention services. Referrals must be within two working days of identification or suspicion of delay, and must be made to an ECI-approved program for evaluation and assessment of the child. Primary referral sources include:

• hospitals, including prenatal and postnatal care facilities;
• physicians
• parents
• child care programs;
• local educational agencies;
• public health facilities;
• other social service agencies; or
• other health care providers.
  

A primary referral source, if other than the parents, may make a referral directly to IPP – ECI or information may be given to the family so they may make the referral contact themselves.
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I want to make a referral, which ECI program do I contact?

Infant Parent Program-ECI is one of three ECI programs in Travis County. The other two ECI programs serving Travis County are Any Baby Can Child & Family Resource Center, and Easter Seals Central Texas. Your home zip code determines which program will provide services to your child and family.

ECI has programs in every Texas County. If you live outside Travis County, call the DARS Inquiries Line at 1-800-628-5115 or visit the ECI website for program information in your area.
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What happens after I am referred to IPP-ECI?

First, you will meet with a person from IPP-ECI who is a service coordinator. This IPP-ECI staff member will help you by giving you information and talking about your concerns, priorities and resources for your child and what you can expect. You may be asked simple questions about how your child is developing.

 

Your service coordinator will support you by coordinating medical, social, educational and developmental services. After your first meeting with your service coordinator, trained IPP-ECI staff will return on another day to meet you and your child for a comprehensive evaluation.

 

What will happen during my child’s evaluation and assessment?
During the evaluation and assessment, IPP-ECI staff will ask you about your child. Evaluations can take place in one session or in many.

 

Before the evaluation and assessment, you will be told:
• who will evaluate your child
• what tests will be used
• what your child will be asked to do
• what areas of development will be looked at
• how the results will be used
Additionally, the information that you can provide about your child’s abilities and activities in everyday life is an important part of the evaluation.

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How much do services cost?

ECI asks families who can afford to do so, to share in the cost of services. The amount a family pays for ECI services is determined using a sliding fee scale and is based on family size and income after allowable deductions, for such things as childcare expenses and outstanding family medical or dental expenses. No child and family will be turned away due to an inability to pay.

• If you allow IPP-ECI to bill your insurance and the insurance pays for any ECI-provided service in a month, you will not be assessed a Cost Share amount for that month.
• If your child is enrolled in or receiving Medicaid, CHIP, SSI or TANF benefits, or your income is below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level, your cost share will be $0.
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What if my private insurance doesn't cover services?

If your insurance provider will not cover any portion of an ECI-provided service, you will pay your assessed Cost Share amount for that month. For further questions, contact us.

I have a deductible on my private insurance; do I pay a Cost Share?

Yes, you will pay your assessed Cost Share amount until your deductible is met. For further questions, contact us.

 

What if I cannot afford to pay for services?

No child or family will be turned away because of an inability to pay. If your income does not fall within the ranges listed on the sliding fee scale, you may be eligible for Medicaid. If your child is enrolled in or receiving Medicaid, CHIP, SSI or TANF benefits, your cost share will be $0.

Services that are at no cost to families are:

• Evaluation and assessment
• Development of an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP)
• Service coordination to help you access services
• Translation and interpretation services, if needed
• All activities related to children’s and families’ rights (Procedural Safeguards)
• Services for children with auditory and visual impairments who receive services from ECI and their local school district

What if my child is over three-years-old, can I request an evaluation?
If your child is three or older, you can pursue services through your local school district

Help Starts Here: Refer a child for developmental evaluation. No diagnosis is necessary.