The Southeast Early Intervention Program is a program that is home-based and provides services that assist local families. The main focus of the intervention program is to promote developmental skills for young children from birth to age three that have or are at risk of developing delays.
A free assessment is available for all that have concerns. This assessment does not need to be ordered from a doctor, hospital or physician.
The program serves many children, including those that are born premature, have issues with reflux or swallowing, and more. There are occupational therapists available, physical and speech, as well as developmental specialists and nurses. This program covers Grand, Carbon and Emery counties.
Depending on your personal concerns, your child may be tested in all areas including social, emotional, adaptive, language and more. The test runs across many domains. Once the test has been completed, it would be determined how to move forward. Speech and language therapy, cognitive skill developmental, motor skill practice among others are often the next step.
For instance, if your child has a delay in crawling and walking, the therapy would be broken into steps. First, work would begin to teach your child to sit up on their own. Then, they would be taught how to roll over. Phases would be made gradually and techniques would be worked on to develop muscles.
Along with all of the specialists that work continually in the program, vision and hearing specialists frequent the area from the USDB center to provide assistance and service.
The Prehistoric Museum’s new director Tim Rylie has worked closely with the program to set up a reserved time every Monday for families to visit and work on daily routines and exercises. Daily routines are important to assist in development. The children will follow the same path, walking up and down the stairs and on inclines and declines throughout the museum. The sandbox plays part as a sensory area. This special event takes place each Monday at 11 a.m.
Families that are interested in the early intervention program may be curious about cost. The fee works on a sliding scale. If a family is provided with Medicaid, WIC or CHIP, there is no cost. Otherwise, the fee is income based, generally running anywhere from $30 to $40 a month, which may include a handful of visits with different specialists. There are exceptions made for the fee in crisis situations.
The Southeast Early Intervention Program has worked with WIC, Early Head-start, DCFS, Castle Valley Center, the Children’s Justice Center, Carbon County Food Bank and more. This program is primarily for children in need. However, if something is affecting the whole family, that can be focused on as well. The specialists have assisted families in applying for Medicaid and are happy to help with issues relating to it.
Developmental delays happen across all socioeconomic groups. They are not cordoned off to families in any class or in any certain area. If you wish to have a free evaluation or learn more about the program, please contact Deena Stockburger or Gwen Anderson at (435) 637-3950.
