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Burke

Award-winning mental health and development disability services in 12 East Texas counties.

Early Childhood Intervention Services

Early Childhood InterventionServices

Families First

Families are at the heart of Burke’s Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) services. In all twelve counties of Burke’s East Texas service area, our services help children from birth to age three overcome difficulties in early development. Together, parents and staff work to improve the child’s physical, cognitive, social, and adaptive development in an effort to build a stronger foundation for the child’s future.

Early is Best

Many children with developmental delays are not identified until after they enter school.

Early intervention can have a significant impact on a child’s abilities to learn, and it reduces the need for additional interventions later in life.

Developmental delays can hinder a child’s ability to develop to their fullest potential. Download a free app from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to track your child’s milestones.

Red Flags

Red flags are warnings of potential problems. If your child displays any of these signs, talk to a doctor or call ECI at 936-634-4703 for an evaluation.

For babies:

  • Cannot bend arms or legs
  • Does not smile, move or look at you when you talk or play with him/her
  • Does not want to be held
  • Does not make sounds by 3 months of age
  • Does not babble by 6 months of age

For toddlers:

  • Has tantrums that last 20 minutes or longer
  • Breaks things on purpose
  • Hurts or bites other people
  • Does not look at you when you call his/her name
  • Flaps hands, rocks or sways over and over
  • Does not point at objects he or she wants
  • Has no words by 12 months

For children of any age:

  • Is fussy or cries a lot – even when not tired or hungry
  • Has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
  • Does not notice people
  • Is unhappy most of the time
  • Any loss of speech, babbling or social skills

Children develop at their own pace. However, if you are concerned that your child may have some delays, early intervention is the best way to help them.

Anyone can request an evaluation, including parents, social workers, caregivers, friends, neighbors, family members, health care professionals, and others.

ECI Services

Services Early Childhood Intervention can provide your family:

  • A thorough evaluation of your child’s developmental progress

  • Specialized care for infants and toddlers
  • Family involvement in therapeutic intervention strategies
  • Therapies and interventions provided in the home or natural setting for the child could include:
    • Speech/language therapy
    • Physical therapy
    • Occupational therapy
    • Specialized skills training
    • Nutritional consultation
  • An interdisciplinary team of licensed or credentialed professionals
  • Measurable outcomes
  • Service coordination/case management
  • Assistance with transition to other services beyond age 3

Eligibility

To receive services through Early Childhood Intervention, the child must be eligible in the following ways:

  • Live in one of these counties: Angelina, Houston, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity or Tyler
  • Be newborn to 3 years old
  • Have a medically diagnosed condition that will probably result in a developmental delay. A developmental delay is when a child is behind schedule reaching early childhood milestones. These significant lags may occur in one or more areas of growth: emotional, mental, or physical.  Types of delays include:
    • Communication – speech and/or language
    • Cognitive – thinking, learning, playing, and reasoning
    • Gross motor – such as using large muscles, to sit up, crawl, walk
    • Fine motor, such as using small muscles, to grab small objects
    • Oral motor, such as using the mouth, to suck, chew
    • Social/emotional – relationships, interactions
    • Self-help – feeding, dressing, taking care of own needs
    • Have an auditory or visual impairment, determined by local school district certified staff

After referral, an interdisciplinary team conducts a comprehensive evaluation to determine eligibility. If the child is eligible for services, the team, along with the parent, develops an Individualized Family Service Plan or IFSP. In developing the IFSP, all pertinent medical information is considered. With written parental consent, the IFSP can be shared with a referral source.

Cost of Services

A sliding fee scale is determined by the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services/ECI according to the family’s ability to pay. Insurance may be billed when available, with the family’s consent.

ECI calculates a family’s monthly maximum payment based on the family’s income and the size of the family. Families with more than one child enrolled in services will only pay one monthly payment. The monthly maximum payment will be $0 if the family’s adjusted income is at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level or if the family receives Medicaid. No family will be denied services due to inability to pay.

Referral Forms

You can download an individual referral form for ECI services here. If you are with a physician’s office, please use the physician referral form. Or you may call 936-634-4703 or toll-free 877-205-3630 to make a referral.

MORE QUESTIONS?

If you have questions about Burke’s Early Childhood Intervention Services, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about how we can help, how to access our services, and eligibility criteria. You can also call 936-634-4703 or toll-free (877) 205-3630.

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