Children suspected of requiring early intervention services from birth to thirty-six months are referred to Wheatley Early Childhood Center through the Infant and Toddler Program with the Prince George's County Department of Family Services. This program is part of a statewide program of early intervention services.. The program is authorized under Public Law 105-17, Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) amendments of 1997.
Assessments are provided free of charge for infants and toddlers whose parents/guardians are county residents. An assessment team is designated to evaluate the child addressing the areas identified as concerns. For example, an educator and a speech pathologist would assess a child with a suspected speech or language problem, while an educator and physical therapist might assess a youngster with a motor difficulty. All areas of development are assessed including: Adaptive; Fine Motor; Gross Motor; Communication; Social; and Cognitive.
Children are found eligible for intervention services based on specific eligibility criteria. Through a parent education model, services are provided in the home, day care facilities, or at Wheatley Early Childhood Center in a toddler group appropriate to the child's needs and families' desire for services.
An Individual Family Services Plan (IFSP) is written for each student enrolled in the program outlining the specific concerns of the family and the interventions to be implemented to address the problem(s). The plans are reviewed and updated with the families at six-month intervals. A service coordinator is assigned to each family to assist with registration and identification of other community resources.
If you have a infant or toddler child not enrolled in our program for whom you have developmental concerns, please call the Infant Toddler Intake Line at 301-925-6627. They will take some basic information and refer your child to a central team who will do the screening and assessment.
