Special Child Health Services helps families meet the needs of their children and assist in accessing community resources. Services are available to any family with a child from birth to 21 years of age who is diagnosed with or later develops a condition that can impact upon development, learning, or physical disability. These services are offered at no cost to families.

Referrals to the Early Intervention Program

Special Child Health Services serves as the single point of entry into the Early Intervention Program. The Early Intervention Program assists families of children from birth to age 3.

Your service coordinator will assist you in obtaining a developmental assessment for your child and help you access services and community resources.

Developmental Milestones for Children

Developmental milestones are the skills and abilities that children develop at certain ages.

• For case management services, call 609-465-1199.
• For Early Intervention services referral, call 888-653-4463.

Although all children are unique and will develop at their own pace, a child who is not achieving one or more of the major milestones may need some intervention.

Developmental delays can occur in the following areas:

• Adaptive / self-help skills: dressing, feeding
• Cognitive: thinking / learning activities
• Communication: speech and language, understanding what is said, following directions, making needs known
• Fine motor: small body movements, using hands for play
• Gross motor: large body movements crawling, walking
• Sensory: receiving / using information through touch, hearing, and sight
• Social and emotional: interacting with children, adults and the environment

If you are concerned about how your child is developing, please discuss it with your health care provider or call the Special Child Health Services Unit in your county.

Several brochures are available that provide a checklist for you to look at your own child’s development.