The evaluation timeline for eligibility for early intervention services (EIS) begins with a written referral and varies depending on the age of the child at the time of the referral.
Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) has 45 days starting on the date of referral to:
- evaluate for eligibility
- conduct assessments
- hold the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meeting
- develop an IFSP
Parents/custodial caregivers must provide written consent for services to begin
The IFSP will be reviewed every six months and revised yearly until the child is too old for ESIT services, or more often if needed.
Once the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) has been written, services must start within 30 days unless the IFSP team determines that a later start date better meets the individual needs of the child and family
The Family Resource Coordinator (FRC) schedules a transition conference for when the child will age out of ESIT services, at least 90 days before the child’s third birthday
Calendar days are all days of the week, including weekends, and school, state, federal and religious holidays.
According to ESIT’s Practice Guide for Late Services: Provision and Documentation, the day of referral counts as the first day in the timeline. Similarly, the date the IFSP is created counts as the first day in the 30-day timeline during which services must begin.
