Early Supports and Services

Family-Centered Early Supports and Services (ESS), New Hampshire's Early Intervention system, is a service provided to families and children under the age of three who have a developmental delay, disability or an established condition. Services are provided in the home and community to assist families in providing the best evidence based practices to increase a child's growth and development.

A home visitor will provide information, modeling and education, targeting specific goals to increase a child's skills and functioning. Home visitors will also assist with service coordination to help families find resources and coordinate services with the family.

For more information or if you have concerns about your child's development, please contact the Family Resource Center at (603) 524-1741. You may also use this referral form.

Getting Started

Referral and Intake

Call the Family Resource Center at (603) 524-1741 to make a referral. You may also use this referral form which can be walked in or mailed. The intake coordinator will contact you for an intake. She will inquire about your concerns, family needs, background information and complete the necessary paperwork. If there are still concerns for your child or you would like a development assessment, one will be scheduled within 45 days to assess each area.

Eligibility and Evaluation

Eligibility is based on a multidisciplinary evaluation. At the evaluation a "team" of people, an educator and therapist will assess your child through play, review the age ranges of development and discuss with you if services are appropriate. Your child needs to have a thirty three percent delay in any area, an established condition or meet five of the at risk categories to qualify for services.

For more information on the eligibility process visit: http://nhspecialed.org/ESSeligibility.shtml.

What's Next?

Services

Our ESS program is

Transdisciplinary Based:

Our team contributes their knowledge and skills, collaborate with other members, and collectively determine the services that would benefit the child the most.

Here's a sample of an Individualized Family Support Plan (IFSP)

If your child is found eligible for ESS, he or she will be assigned a home visitor, according to their needs. This person may be an Educator, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist or Speech and Language Pathologist. The home visitor and family will work as a team to develop goals as part of the Individualized Family Support Plan. The home visitor will strategize, model and help you implement activities that can be incorporated into your daily routines to build on your child's skills and help them to reach your goals. They will also help to find a variety of resources for your family and help you to continue to be successful in raising your child.

Home Visits can last up to an hour, and may be at your home, childcare center, playgroup, the library, etc. Frequency of home visits vary from once a week to once a month. Visits by a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, and a Speech and Language Pathologist may differ, according to the child's need(s). Your child will have a Service Coordinator to assist you in coordinating services, both by ESS or outside services, and to also assist you in the transition process.

Transitions from Early Supports and Services at age 3

The Family-Centered Early Supports and Services (ESS) Program provides supports up to a child’s third birthday, at which time the family and child transition to other services in the community. At the time of transition, you will be given useful information in the form of handouts, brochures, booklets, and timelines to help you understand the transition process.

Early Supports and Services continue until age 3, unless:

The child meets the goal(s) set by the family and/or home visitor.
The family no longer has concerns for their child or no longer wants services.
The child does not qualify at the yearly re-evaluation.

Each child will have a transition plan in place at discharge from ESS.

Transition to School Services and other Community Services

The transition from ESS begins at 24 months with a Child Find process, providing information to school districts on children possibly transitioning to special education.
A written transition plan must be included in the IFSP at age two. (Click here to review a sample IFSP) The plan includes timelines and steps to be taken to help children and families exit the ESS program and begin preschool, or other community services and programs.
90 days before a child turns three, the ESS program will schedule and facilitate a transition conference with the family, local school district and other community agencies the family is interest in exploring. The purpose it to talk with the school and other groups about potential program options for the child, and to create a plan for making a smooth transition to a new environment.
If the family is interested in making a referral to the local school district, ESS will support them to do this successfully.
If a child does not qualify for school services, other services, and programs such as Head start, private preschool, childcare programs and other community resources will be discussed.

Transition to Family Support at Lakes Region Community Services

At age three, children may be eligible to continue to receive Family Support through Lakes Region Community Services (LRCS).

Eligibility is determined based on New Hampshire statute 171A, item 503. Please refer to the Intake and Eligibility brochure for specific information.
ESS will assist the families with possible eligibility with the application process and will submit to the LRCS Intake Coordinator three months prior to the child’s third birthday.
If deemed eligible for Family Support, the assigned Resource Coordinator will make a joint visit to the family with ESS staff before the child’s third birthday to introduce the services and supports available.
For more information on LRCS Family Support services, please click here.

For additional information on the transition process:

http://www.nhspecialed.org/ESS24months.shtml
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~eco/index.cfm

LRCS' Family Resource Newsletter!

Please enjoy our Family Resource Newsletter, including information on where to find assistance in a variety of areas.

Join our email list

Family Resource Center

719 North Main Street * Laconia NH 03246 * (603) 524-1741 * Email: frc@lrcs.org

Please Consider Making a Donation

Each year, LRCS supports more than 1200 Lakes Region residents. Your
tax-deductible donation to LRCS will help ensure that everyone in our community
has the chance to lead a fully inclusive life.