NYC Early Intervention Services

When you are concerned about your child’s development, it can be hard to know where to begin. New York Child Resource Center, Inc. provides Early Intervention services for eligible infants and toddlers through New York City’s Early Intervention Program, with licensed and certified professionals, evidence-based practices, and individualized support for each child and family.

Children start with a service coordinator, also known as a case manager, who guides the family through the evaluation process. If a child is found eligible, services are identified through the Individualized Family Service Plan process and must be authorized by the municipality. New York Child Resource Center, Inc. has provided Early Intervention services since 1993, and services authorized through the Early Intervention Program are provided at no out-of-pocket cost to families.

What We Offer

Our services are designed to provide the highest level of care, tailored to meet the unique needs of each child we serve. No two children are the same, and every plan we develop reflects that.

We build relationships. Every child who comes through our doors is greeted with warmth, respect, and an unwavering belief in their potential. Our therapists and teachers are experts in their fields who genuinely care about your child’s growth and well-being. We work together – partnering with you – to create an environment where every child feels safe, valued, and understood, and where they can flourish.

Our collaborative team of ABA therapists, speech-language pathologists, and occupational therapists works together to design a plan that meets your child’s specific needs. We serve children with a wide range of developmental needs, and every child who comes to us deserves individualized attention and a place where they can thrive.

Service Coordination

New York Child Resource Center, Inc. provides initial and ongoing service coordination through the Early Intervention Program in English and Spanish.

Children start with a service coordinator, also known as a case manager, who guides the family through the evaluation process. Service coordinators help guide families through the Early Intervention process, from evaluation through the development of the Individualized Family Service Plan. A service coordinator can help you understand the process, answer questions, and make sure that authorized services are being provided as listed in your child’s IFSP.

Service coordinators also assist families as children approach their third birthdays, including support with the transition out of Early Intervention and planning for appropriate next steps such as preschool special education services.

Evaluations

Evaluations help determine whether a child is eligible for Early Intervention services. New York Child Resource Center, Inc. provides evaluations at all three centers and in the home.

During an evaluation, a team of NYS licensed/certified therapists and teachers assesses your child across key areas of development, which may include motor skills such as grasping, crawling, and walking; communication skills, including how your child understands and uses language; cognitive abilities such as problem-solving, exploring, and early learning; social and emotional development, including how your child interacts with others; and adaptive skills such as feeding, dressing, and daily routines.

Evaluations may include professionals from areas such as Special Education, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Social Work, and Psychology. Parents and caregivers are an important part of the evaluation process, and you are encouraged to share what you observe about your child’s development at home.

In order to be found eligible for Early Intervention services, a child must be evaluated and determined to be exhibiting a developmental delay that meets eligibility criteria determined by the New York City Department of Health Early Intervention Program and New York State Department of Health Early Intervention. If a child is found eligible, services are identified through the Individualized Family Service Plan process and must be authorized by the municipality.

Center-Based Services

New York Child Resource Center, Inc. provides center-based Early Intervention services at each of our three centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan.

At each center, we provide ABA Group, Speech Group, and Sensory/Motor Occupational Therapy Group services. Each group is 90 minutes and consists of no more than 10 children. Each child in each group is supported by a 1:1 aide.

Group settings give young children real opportunities to practice communication, play, movement, and social interaction with other children as part of their regular learning environment. For many children, learning happens not only through direct adult support, but also through shared routines, peer interaction, and everyday moments such as play, transitions, and group activities. Many families find that center-based services are the right fit for their child, and we welcome that preference.

ABA Group

The ABA Group is a 90-minute center-based group led by a NYS-certified Special Education Early Childhood Birth-2nd Grade teacher. The ABA Group meets five days per week.

New York Child Resource Center, Inc. provides ABA programming for young learners on the autism spectrum. Our ABA groups help children build essential skills through structured, evidence-based interventions. Every child receives one-to-one support within the group setting, and grows in areas including communication, social interaction, and behavioral development.

Programs are individually written by certified special education teachers and adjusted based on each child’s progress and collected data. Services are based on each child’s evaluation, eligibility, and the services authorized through the Individualized Family Service Plan process.

Speech Group

The Speech Group is a 90-minute center-based group led by a NYS-licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. Speech Group may be provided two, three, four, or five times per week, as mandated on the child’s IFSP.

Communication is key, and our Speech Groups are designed to help children develop language, speech, and non-verbal communication skills in a supportive and interactive setting. For infants and toddlers, this may include support with understanding spoken language, using words or gestures to communicate, producing speech sounds, developing social communication skills, or building pre-language skills such as joint attention, turn-taking, and imitation.

Each Speech Group consists of no more than 10 children, with each child supported by a 1:1 aide. Services are based on each child’s evaluated needs and the services authorized through the IFSP process.

Sensory/Motor Occupational Therapy Group

The Sensory/Motor Occupational Therapy Group is a 90-minute center-based group led by a NYS-licensed Occupational Therapist. Sensory/Motor Occupational Therapy Group may be provided two, three, four, or five times per week, as mandated on the child’s IFSP.

For young children, the everyday activities of childhood are their most important work: playing, eating, getting dressed, exploring, and learning to interact with people and environments. Our OT groups focus on helping children build independence, coordination, and everyday skills – and on supporting children who need help developing the skills that make those activities possible. This may include support with sensory processing, fine motor skills such as grasping and manipulating objects, gross motor coordination, self-care and daily living skills, visual perception, and social participation.

Each Sensory/Motor Occupational Therapy Group consists of no more than 10 children, with each child supported by a 1:1 aide. Services are individualized based on each child’s evaluated needs and the services authorized through the IFSP process.

Home-Based Services

For families whose children receive home-based services, New York Child Resource Center, Inc. provides care in the home or community – including the child’s daycare center. These services are provided by NYS-certified/licensed therapists and teachers, with the same commitment to excellence and individualized care regardless of where services are delivered.

Home-based services include ABA, Special Instruction, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Social Work, and Family Training. Services are based on the child’s evaluation, eligibility, and the services authorized through the Individualized Family Service Plan process.

ABA

New York Child Resource Center, Inc. provides ABA as a home-based service for young learners on the autism spectrum through the Early Intervention Program.

ABA services are designed around each child’s developmental needs and learning style. Programs are written by certified special education teachers and adjusted based on the child’s progress and collected data. Each child receives individualized support based on a program written specifically for them by a certified special educator, developed after a thorough assessment of the child’s skills and needs and adjusted over time as the child progresses.

Special Instruction

New York Child Resource Center, Inc. provides Special Instruction as a home-based service through the Early Intervention Program.

Special instruction helps young children build foundational skills across multiple areas of development, including cognitive, communication, adaptive, and social-emotional skills. A special instructor works with the child through structured play, developmental activities, and everyday routines to support learning and growth. Special instruction may also include working with parents and caregivers, helping them learn strategies to support their child’s development at home and in daily life.

Speech Therapy

New York Child Resource Center, Inc. provides Speech Therapy as a home-based service through the Early Intervention Program.

Speech therapy helps children develop the communication skills they need to express themselves, understand others, and interact with the world around them. For infants and toddlers, this may include support with understanding spoken language, using words or gestures to communicate, producing speech sounds, developing social communication skills, or building pre-language skills such as joint attention, turn-taking, and imitation. Sessions may be provided in the child’s home or in a community setting such as a daycare center.

Occupational Therapy

New York Child Resource Center, Inc. provides Occupational Therapy as a home-based service through the Early Intervention Program.

Occupational therapy supports children who need help developing skills involved in play, learning, daily routines, and interaction – and helps children build independence, coordination, and everyday functional skills. This may include support with sensory processing, fine motor skills such as grasping and manipulating objects, gross motor coordination, self-care and daily living skills, visual perception, and social participation. Sessions may be provided in the child’s home or in a community setting such as a daycare center.

Physical Therapy

New York Child Resource Center, Inc. provides Physical Therapy as a home-based service through the Early Intervention Program.

Physical therapy for infants and toddlers focuses on helping children develop the physical skills they need to move, explore, and participate in daily life. This may include support with reaching gross motor milestones such as sitting, crawling, standing, and walking; building strength, balance, and coordination; and improving mobility and movement patterns. Physical therapy can also help children who have difficulty with posture, muscle tone, or physical endurance.

Social Work

New York Child Resource Center, Inc. provides Social Work as a home-based service through the Early Intervention Program.

Social work services in Early Intervention focus on supporting the family as a whole. This may include helping families understand their child’s developmental needs, navigate the Early Intervention system, develop coping strategies, connect with community resources and support networks, and address family concerns that may affect a child’s development. Social work services recognize that supporting the family is an essential part of supporting the child.

Family Training

New York Child Resource Center, Inc. provides Family Training as a home-based service through the Early Intervention Program.

Family Training supports parents and caregivers as they learn strategies to help their child’s development during everyday routines and daily life. Services are based on the child’s developmental needs, the family’s goals, and the services authorized through the IFSP process.