Program Overview
Spokane Regional Health District’s Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (SRHD ESIT) is the lead agency in Spokane County for supporting children with disabilities or developmental delays, from birth to age three. Parents who have concerns about their child’s development can contact ESIT to receive assistance and information about entering into the program.
A child residing in Spokane County, from birth through age 3, is eligible for early intervention services when:
- A professional assessment has determined he/she has a 25% or more developmental delay for his/her age, or
- When he/she has a diagnosed physical or mental condition, such as hearing loss, vision impairment, Down Syndrome, neurological disorder, with a high probability it may result in delayed development, or
- When he/she has a 1.5 standard deviation below his/her age in one or more developmental areas.
SRHD ESIT contracts with the Department of Children, Youth, & Families/Early Support for Infants and Toddlers as the County Lead Agency (CLA).
Ask Now Kids and Babies Can’t Wait
Do you have concerns about your child’s development? Free comprehensive developmental screenings (also known as Child Find Events) are coordinated through the CICC.
Check out the ‘Ask Now Kids and Babies Can’t Wait’!
Spokane Regional Health District’s Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (SRHD ESIT) provides leadership and advocacy, as required by the state, to the County Inter-agency Coordination Council (CICC), a conduit for parents to meet and work with the professionals and agencies designed to serving young children with developmental delays.
Child Find Events for free comprehensive developmental screenings are coordinated through the CICC.
Early Intervention Service Providers
Research demonstrates early intervention treatment services, such as physical, speech, and occupational therapies can greatly improve a child’s development. These therapies enhance development to allow a child to talk, walk, eat, feed themselves and interact with others.
SRHD ESIT works with eligible families to assign an Early Intervention Service provider. A Family Resources coordinator (FRC) working at the provider location helps coordinate screenings and ensure comprehensive developmental evaluations are completed. FRCs use these results to determine eligibility and support families in accessing resources.
Children are evaluated in these functional areas:
- cognitive
- motor
- social-emotional
- speech and language
- vision and hearing
Early Intervention Service providers are shown here:
1. Center for Pediatric Therapy
3. Joya Child and Family Development
Early Support for Infants and Toddlers
18Months is the average amount of time a child receives services
Early Intervention helps children to:
FRCs coordinate evaluation of children in these functional areas:
- Develop positive social-emotional skills and relationships
- acquire the use of knowledge and skills including language and communication
- learn and use appropriate behaviors to meet their need
- learn self-help skills appropriate for their age
- Make progress and enhance their development
Parents learn to advocate for their child
- Services to be conducted in the child’s natural environment
“Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning” -Diane Ackerman
Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program
WIC has an extraordinary record of preventing children’s health problems and improving growth and development. Locally, the health district supports this vision by offering WIC services in several convenient locations.
Access to Baby & Child Dentistry Program
Matches Medicaid-eligible children, ages 0-6, to a dentist for fluoride, exams, parent education and restorative care.