Parents often wonder what to expect when it comes to their child’s development
Babies and toddlers grow and develop at their own pace, but there are certain activities – such as smiling for the first time, standing and taking their first steps – that your child should be able to do once they reach specific ages. These skills are called developmental milestones. If you’re worried your child is not developing these skills on time, Early Steps can help.
Florida’s Early Steps Program provides early intervention services to eligible infants and toddlers, from birth to 36-months, with developmental delays, disabilities and at-risk conditions. Children can be referred to Early Steps in various ways. Referrals can be submitted by anyone involved in the care of the child, including parents/caregivers and physicians. To be enrolled in Early Steps, your child must first be found eligible.
In addition to the eligibility criteria below, children with certain documented physical or mental at-risk conditions are also eligible for a limited scope of services.
Established Conditions
Children who have an established condition that place them at risk of developmental delay may be eligible for services through Early Steps.
Genetic and Metabolic Disorder
Neurological Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Severe Attachment Disorder
Sensory Impairment (Vision/Hearing)
Infants who weigh less than 1,200 grams at birth
Developmental Concerns
If there is currently no diagnosed condition but there are concerns about potential developmental delay, a team of early intervention professionals will collaborate to screen, evaluate and assess your child in the following areas:
Physical: Health, hearing, vision
Cognitive: Thinking, learning, problem solving
Gross and Fine Motor Skills: Moving, walking, grasping, coordination
Communication: Babbling, languages, speech, conversation
Social and Emotional: Playing and interacting with others
Adaptive Development: Self-help skills (feeding, toileting, dressing)
Eligibility determination
If your child is determined eligible, Early Steps will put together a team to address your child’s strengths and needs, and develop an Individualized Family Support Plan (IFSP). The IFSP team includes the family, service coordinator and at least two professionals from two different disciplines that have been or are currently involved in the assessment and provision of the child’s services. Specialists are also available to address the child’s individualized strengths and needs.
The Extended Option was established to allow eligible children to continue receiving Early Steps services until the start of the school year following their fourth birthday. Over the past year, Early Steps took important steps to implement the Extended Option, including completing federal requirements. The program continues to build resources and train providers to fully implement the Extended Option.
Section 391.3081, Florida Statutes, requires both state and federal approval and resources appropriated to implement the Extended Option. At this time, Early Steps does not have the resources required to implement the Extended Option for the upcoming fiscal year.
Early Steps remains committed to supporting Florida’s infants and toddlers who have developmental delays and will continue to support all enrolled children up to age three.
Updates will be shared here as they become available.
