‘It is never too early to refer a child for early intervention services’

May is Early Intervention Awareness Month in Virginia, emphasizing the critical role of early support in a child’s development. 

Residents of Newport News and Hampton can have their children under the age of 3 screened for free thanks to VersAbility Resources’ Early Prevention and Intervention for Children (EPIC) program, which assists families who have infants and toddlers with developmental delays.

The E in EPIC stands for early, and early intervention is imperative for helping children reach their full potential.

“It is never too early to refer a child for early intervention services,” said Robin Drummond, Program Manager for EPIC. “We receive referrals for infants from hospital discharge coordinators or doctors for infants who are being prepared to be discharged from the hospital. Our program supports children until the day before their third birthday.

A physician referral is not required. A parent or guardian can submit a referral online.

Parents often notice red flags when children aren’t reaching their milestones – standing, sitting or walking at their expected ages. But developmental delays can be subtle.

Difficulty grasping objects and balance issues can result from a physical development delay.

Toddlers not smiling, responding to social stimuli and uninterested in playing with others their age can indicate a cognitive delay.

It’s critical to expose children to environments where they can develop fine and gross motor skills. Balls, steps, soft blocks, and tunnels are ideal for 1-year-olds, while older toddlers benefit from swings, push bikes, balance boards, and hopping animals.

“We encourage parents not to compare their child to other children, but at the same time, there are developmental milestone charts available that are used as guides,” Drummond said. “Often, language delays may go undetected, especially if a parent was told that he or she did not speak until a certain age, so this does not raise a level of concern for the parent. Movement patterns, such as not having a full range of motion to turn your head or other limbs, may go undetected if the child is demonstrating other developmental skills without any difficulty. Toddler eating patterns could potentially be overlooked if it appears the child is getting enough to eat, but maybe from only one or two types of food groups.”

VersAbility’s Service Coordinators work with the caregivers in the family to develop strategies to best support the goals of each individual child leading a life without limits. Service Coordinators use toys and materials found in the home to help caregivers engage with the children so that the necessary skills are developed in their natural environment.

While EPIC serves Hampton and Newport News, early intervention services are available in 40 different localities in Virginia. Families can call VersAbility at 757-896-8457 for a referral. They can also visit the Infant and Toddler Connection of Virginia website for a referral or speak with their pediatrician to find the appropriate agency.