If your child is less than 3 and might have a developmental delay, you may be able to get help from a program called EarlySteps.
This program helps families with children age 0-3 who have developmental delays, or disabilities that will likely cause delays.
It's offered in all states and is also called Early Intervention (EI).
EarlySteps is the name for Louisiana's Early Intervention system.
What does EarlySteps do?
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Offers services to help children practice skills through play, and catch up in their development
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Helps the family learn how to encourage their child's development at home
EarlySteps is run by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH). Services are free or low cost, depending on your income.
If kids get this focused play at an early age, they are more likely to catch up in their development. The earlier the better!
If you're worried about your child's development for any reason, you should start the process and see if they qualify!
The first step is to call your region's EarlySteps System Points of Entry (SPOE) Office.
Click on the link at the bottom of the page to download a list of all the SPOE offices.
To learn more, see our EarlySteps Guide. It will go through the process of how to apply and see if your child qualifies.
Sources: LDH, Center for Parent Information and Resources