• If you want to have your child’s development checked

• If the parent has a concern about the child’s development, even if the child appears to be on track

• If a borderline or atypical score appears on an Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), or another similar developmental screen

• If the child was born premature, or diagnosed with a condition that could affect their development

• If there is a concern for autism

• If a child is age birth-3 and is on a waitlist for outpatient speech, occupational, and/or physical therapy and they want to try to get therapy services sooner. Children are not put on a waitlist for ESIT services and will receive an evaluation and services plan (if they qualify) within 45 days the referral is made).

• Certain conditions can automatically qualify a child for ESIT, such as prematurity, drug exposure during pregnancy, Down Syndrome, autism and more. When in doubt, make a referral!

ANYONE can refer a child to ESIT. You do not need to be the child’s doctor or primary care provider. You can be the child’s teacher, home visitor, childcare provider, social worker, etc. Parents can also self refer their child!

• Referrals to ESIT programs in Whatcom County go through the SEAS line. If you do not live in Whatcom County, please see ESIT statewide directoryto connect to a ESIT provider in the county where the child lives.

• If you are the child’s parent or legal guardian: Please call or text the SEAS line at 360.715.7485or submit a contact request through our website. Our navigators will get back to you within 1-2 business days.

• If you are working with a family and want to refer: Please see referring a family to SEAS sectionon our website for more information. If using our referral forms, please check the ESIT (Early Support for Infants & Toddlers) box. Referrals can only be made with parent or legal guardian’s consent.

• When a referral is made to SEAS for ESIT or a family contacts the SEAS line, a Family Resources Navigator will call the family within 1-2 business days.

• The Family Resources Navigator will learn more from the parent about what they have noticed with their child or their concerns. The Navigator will provide more information about the ESIT program and will also check in with the family to see if they need other resources and will provide that information as needed.

• The Family Resources Navigator will send the family more information about ESIT, child development, and any other resources the family needs.

• If the family agrees to ESIT, the Family Resources Navigator will send the referral to the ESIT teams in Whatcom County.

• The family will be matched to a local agency that provides ESIT services in Whatcom County.

• The family will be assigned a Family Resource Coordinator (FRC). The FRC will contact the family right away to schedule an intake appointment. The FRC also schedules the evaluation, connects the family to community resources, and will help them transition to other services when the child turns three.

• All children referred to ESIT will receive a developmental evaluation. The child will be evaluated in speech (communication), physical, self-help (ability to help dress and feed self), social-emotional, and problem-solving skills (how a child learns).

• The child is evaluated by two early childhood professionals. This could be a speech therapist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, or an early childhood specialist.

• During the evaluation, the evaluators will assess your child by having them do different actions to see what your child can do and/or how they respond. They will also ask the parent or caregiver a lot of questions about the child. This is not a test and parents do not need to prepare for the evaluation!

• At the end of the evaluation the parent will know if the child qualifies for services. A child can qualify for services if the evaluation shows a 25% or more delay in one of the areas of development noted above or if they have a qualifying diagnosis. Many children qualify for services!

• Children who qualify for ESIT services will be assigned a Primary Service Provider (PSP) or Coach. PSPs could be a speech, occupational, or physical therapist, or a specialized instructor (like a teacher). They will be

• The FRC, PSP, and family will come up with developmental goals and a service plan called an Individual Family Services Plan (IFSP). The IFSP will also outline how often the PSP visits the family. It gets re-assessed every six months.

• It often looks like play!

• The PSP will work with the child to build their skills, but they will also teach the family members how to work on the developmental goals so they can do it on their own.

• Services are designed around the child’s interests and routines.

ESIT Services in Whatcom County are provided by:

• Lummi 0-3 (for families who are Native American/Alaska Native)

• Opportunity Council

• Whatcom Center for Early Learning

• ALL programs offer high quality services!

The evaluation is free. Services after that are billed through insurance.

ESIT services occur in the family’s home or another natural environment to the child.

• The first years of life are very important, as about 80% of brain development occurs before age three*

• For some children, delays may resolve with early support services. That means they may not need services from the school district or outpatient when they turn 3.

• Even if delays persist over time, a child will do better in school, social relationships, and personal skills with support early on.

• The earlier a child is referred, the more likely they will qualify for services! There's no need to wait to make a referral.

*The Urban Child Institute. Brain Development: Conception to Age 3. http://www.urbanchildinstitute.org