Children under the age of three with developmental delays may benefit from services provided in an nurturing environment.  Contracted professionals provide specialized assessment in language development, developmental therapy, physical therapy, and educational areas in a center based environment. An Individualized Family Service Plan is developed for each child and involves DCI staff, family members, and professionals. Activities focus on learning through play and integration with other children as well as transition into the educational system. .

DCI participates in the provision of Early Intervention (EI) services in the State of Tennessee under the rules and regulations formulated in Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). IDEA regulations require each state to ensure the implementation of a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency system of services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.

An array of service providers in cooperation with the Department of Education (DOE) make up Tennessee’s Early Intervention System (TEIS) including the TEIS District Offices, the Health Department, DMRS contract providers, public/private providers, program advisory boards, and local Interagency Coordinating Councils (LICCs) working in conjunction with the State Interagency Coordinating Council.

Early Intervention agencies and providers are required to conduct child-find activities in order to assist in the identification of infants and toddlers with disabilities. Once identified, with parent consent, children are assessed in order to determine strengths and needs and determine the child’s eligibility for early intervention services in accordance with Part C and DMR eligibility requirements. Once eligibility is established, a collaborative team, including the child’s parents, meets to identify the services needed by the child and family through the development of an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). The IFSP is developed in order to ensure that needed services are provided to the family under the supervision of qualified personnel. The IFSP must meet the State standards established under the Rules, Regulations, and Minimum Standards for the Governance of Tennessee’s Early Intervention System. To the maximum extent possible, Early Intervention Services must be provided in natural environments in which children without disabilities participate and in environments that are considered natural or normal for the child’s age peers who have no disability.

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