Birth Through Age 2
Early Intervention Services
Early Intervention (EI) is a statewide system providing coordinated services to young children with disabilities (birth through age 2) and their families. EI is a home and community-based collaboration where you and your team work together to provide ongoing support for your child. Your EI team will include a service coordinator and a team of providers who work with you in your home or other places where your family spends its time.
With Miami County EI, parents and caregivers can depend on our experienced team of professionals to help them every step of the way with their child's learning and development.
Early Intervention Goals Our EI Team provides each child and their support network with the resources and support they need. When providing these services, our EI Team has 4 key goals in mind:
- Enhance development of infants and toddlers with disabilities
- Reduce educational costs by decreasing need for special education
- Minimize need for institutionalization and maximize independent living
- Enrich family's capacity to meet their child's needs
Principles of EI
The Family's Role
- Recognize the critical role caregivers play in your child's development
- Set goals based on how your child's progress fits with your family's priorities
- Learn from the team so you can work with your child during your family's everyday routines between visits from your service provider.
- Learn more about the implications of the sibling’s support needs
The EI Team's Role
- Base services on child and family's interests
- Partner with parents/caregivers
- Focus on enhancing child and family participation in community experiences
- Use team's expertise to meet the family's goals for their child's development
- Help families find resources
- Answer families' questions
Meet Our EI Team
Kathy Greenawalt-Cherry
Early Intervention Director
Taylor Von Duhn
Developmental Specialist Manager
Kaelyn Foreman
Service Coordinator Manager & LSW
Lesly Hecker
Developmental Specialist & LSW
Tricia Richardson
Developmental Specialist
Kim Locker
Developmental Specialist
Brianna Quillen
Developmental Specialist
Michelle Barga
Developmental Specialist & LSW
Christy Grohoske
Service Coordinator
Tasha Gullett
Service Coordinator
Kalesha Peacock
Service Coordinator
Sierra Simon
Service Coordinator
Gloria Olberding
Service Coordinator
Penny Hines
Occupational Therapist
Karen Lohnes
Physical Therapist
LaRita Condon
Speech & Language Pathologist
Other Services within Early Intervention in Miami County:
Autism Diagnosis Education Project (ADEP)
- The Autism Diagnosis Education Project (ADEP) for children ages 18 months to 3 years old provides a local option for families who suspect their child might be on the autism spectrum. The goal of the project is to lower the age of diagnosis and decrease the gap between when parents first suspect their child has autism and when they receive an official diagnosis.
The P.L.A.Y. Project
- Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters, otherwise known as the P.L.A.Y. Project, offers research-based programs that focus on play and relationships to support the social and emotional growth of a child with autism. Play is the way young children learn best. The P.L.A.Y. Project helps children grow and develop through playful interaction, and helps young children improve their language, development, behavior and social skills.
Questions about Eligibility for Early Intervention services?
Contact Help Me Grow at 1-800-755-4769 (GROW) or fill out the referral form.