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All applicants must begin by contacting the Regional Resource Development Center (RRDC) in their region.
Contact@wilc.org or 914-682-3926
914-685-5064 (Brooklyn Only)
Desiree Marrero: dmarrero@wilc.org
914-685-5045 (Queens and Manhattan)
Lakista Short: lshort@wilc.org
718-816-3555 (Staten Island and Bronx)
Ally Cole: acole@wilc.org
The RRDC reviews Medicaid status, conducts evaluations (like UAS-NY-CHA), and confirms eligibility.
If approved, you receive a list of providers and select your coordinator.
TBI: Must choose within 30 days
NHTD: Choose any time after approval
Once your service plan is approved by the RRDC, services begin. Need help? Our team is available to guide you through the process for free.
Call 311 or work with provider agency:
• Anyone who is concerned about a child’s development (parent, doctor, daycare staff, etc.) can make a referral.
• Referrals are made to the Local Early Intervention Program (LEIP) in the county where the child lives.
You can:
• Call your county’s Department of Health – Early Intervention Office, or
• Complete and submit a referral form (many counties have online forms), or
• Have your pediatrician or another provider submit the referral on your behalf.
• Children must be under age 3 at the time of referral.
Once the referral is received, the county assigns an Initial Service Coordinator (ISC). The ISC will:
• Explain your rights and procedural safeguards,
• Obtain your written consent for evaluation,
• Gather insurance and demographic information,
• Help you select an approved evaluation agency.
• A multidisciplinary evaluation (MDE) is scheduled to determine eligibility.
• The evaluation team includes at least two professionals from different disciplines (e.g., special education teacher and speech-language pathologist).
The evaluation assesses five areas of development:
1. Cognitive
2. Physical (including vision and hearing)
3. Communication
4. Social-emotional
5. Adaptive/self-help skills
Evaluations are provided at no cost to the family.
The evaluation results determine whether the child is:
• Eligible (showing a developmental delay or diagnosed condition), or
• Not eligible (development is within expected range).
• If eligible, you move on to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).
• If not eligible, the ISC will provide information on community resources and other developmental supports.
The Initial IFSP Meeting must be held within 45 days of the referral.
Required participants include:
• The parent(s),
• The ISC,
• The evaluator, and
• The Early Intervention Official/Designee (EIO/D).
The team reviews the evaluation results and determines:
• The child’s developmental outcomes (goals),
• Which EI services are needed (e.g., speech therapy, OT, PT, special instruction),
• Frequency, duration, and location of services, and
• Whether services will occur at home, in daycare, or another natural environment.
Once the IFSP is signed, an Ongoing Service Coordinator (OSC) is assigned.
The OSC:
• Ensures services begin promptly,
• Coordinates between the family and providers,
• Monitors progress, and
• Updates the IFSP every 6 months or sooner if changes occur.
• When a child turns 2 years 6 months, the OSC begins transition planning.
• If the child may be eligible for preschool special education (CPSE), a transition conference is held to ensure continuity of services after age 3.
• Child’s birth certificate and proof of residency
• Insurance card/information
• Parent/guardian ID
• Signed consent forms for evaluation and information release