Development Concerns

Are you concerned about your child’s development, behavior, or mental health?

Here are services the State of CT and Southington Schools provide and links to third-party advocates.

Additional resources can be found in the ECCS Resources Directory under Special Needs.

The Connecticut State Department of Education has released a glossary of early special education terminology for community-based providers and families, the Common Terminology in Early Childhood Special Education. The CSDE has developed a new Individualized Education Program (IEP) document with input from a representative group of stakeholders. The CSDE has required the use of this document for all new IEPs written for students in the State of Connecticut beginning July 1, 2022.

The Early Childhood Personnel Center has created a list of Commonly Used Acronyms in Early Childhood Intervention.

You can track and understand your child’s development using the Ages & Stages Questionnaires® (ASQ) which is available via Sparkler, a free mobile app for Connecticut families with children 0-5 and programs serving those families.

Connecticut Child Development Infoline

The Connecticut Child Development Infoline supports children’s healthy growth and development, starting from pregnancy.

They provide services related to:

• Child development screening and questions
• In-home support
• Developmental delays and disabilities
• Special Education
• Special health needs

Their programs include:

• Ages and Stages
• Birth to Three
• Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs
• Early Childhood Special Education
• Healthy From Day One
• Help Me Grow
• “Learn the Signs. Act Early”
• Pregnancy Supports

Learn about Connecticut Child Development Infoline and see the CDI Service Chart.

Connecticut Birth to Three

The Birth to Three program offers early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities, ages birth up to age 3, and their families.

This system was created by federal legislation known as the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Part C of IDEA is the Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities. The mission of the Connecticut Birth to Three system is to strengthen the capacity of Connecticut’s families to meet the developmental and health-related needs of their infants and toddlers who have delays or disabilities. Learn more about Connecticut Birth to Three.

Southington Special Education

Southington Public Schools offers free evaluations for parents who have concerns regarding their children’s development, speech and language, and behavior. Ask for your child to “be evaluated for special education services.” For children who are three,  four or five years old, a preschool speech/language pathologist and/or a preschool special education teacher will conduct the screening.

Special education services are provided to eligible 3, 4, and 5-year-old children with disabilities who are entitled to a free appropriate public education in accordance with their individual needs as mandated by special education law.

The Southington Integrated Preschool program, which has approximately 50% typically developing children who serve as peer models for the students who require special education, meets at Wrinn Preschool Center at Hatton Elementary School (3 classrooms) and Strong Elementary School (1 classroom). Learn more about Southington Special Education.

Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center

Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center, Inc. (CPAC) is a statewide nonprofit organization that offers information and support to families of children with any disability or chronic illness, age birth to 26. The disability can be temporary, such as a concussion, or lifelong. They offer a variety of classes and services. Learn more about Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center.

State of CT Special Education

More information about Special Education,  Early Childhood services, and the transition from the Birth to Three program is from the State Department of Education’s Special Education Department.

Website: https://portal.ct.gov/SDE/Services/Special-Education

Website: https://portal.ct.gov/SDE/Special-Education/Early-Childhood-Special-Education.

Including Children with Disabilities in Connecticut Early Childhood Programs: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SDE/Special-Education/Early/InclusionFlier.pdf

Early Childhood Consultation Partnership

The Early Childhood Consultation Partnership (ECCP^®) program is one of the nation’s first statewide, comprehensive, data-driven, Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation programs. The ECCP is a state-funded program and is provided at no cost to parents and early childcare centers.
ECCP^® provides early childhood mental health promotion, prevention, and intervention services to children who are at risk of suspension/expulsion from early care and education settings due to behavioral and mental health concerns. This is done through consultation, capacity building, and treatment planning around individual children-families and classrooms.

The ECCP offers consultation to parents and early childhood educators to promote children’s social and emotional development for children birth to age five. Learn more about Early Childhood Consultation Partnership.

Home Visiting via Child First

Child First™ is a no-cost intensive, therapeutic home visiting program that works with parents and families to help address emotional, behavioral or developmental challenges, as well as learning problems in young children, birth to 6. This program includes a comprehensive assessment of child and family needs; observation and consultation in early care and education; parent-child mental health intervention; development of a child and family plan of care; and care coordination and case management. Interventions are designed to support the parents/caregivers in their role as loving protectors and promoters of healthy development of the child.

This program is offered to residents of Southington and neighboring towns via Wheeler Clinic. Referrals can be made by DCF, Birth to Three, a childcare provider or school, the ECCS, or similar organization. Learn more about Child First.

Mobile Crisis Intervention Services

Mobile Crisis Intervention Services serves children and adolescents experiencing a mental health crisis. It can help youth avoid the negative consequences that can result from mental health crises (such as juvenile arrests) by calling 2-1-1 for both immediate and ongoing support. By dialing 2-1-1 and, when prompted, pressing ‘1’ for ‘crisis’, and then “1” again for “Mobile Crisis” police can gain access to Mobile Crisis’ 14 teams of nearly 150 trained mental health professionals across the state that can respond immediately, face-to-face or by phone, to help manage the child’s behavioral or emotional crisis. In Connecticut, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) provides crisis services for children and youth through the Emergency Mobile Psychiatric Service (EMPS). Learn more about Mobile Crisis Intervention Services.

Phone: 2-1-1, then pick 1 for crisis and 1 for mobile crisis

UConn Child and Family Development Program

The Child and Family Development Program at UConn Health’s Southington location serves Southington children ages 6-17 and their parents and guardians. They provide services, support, and education aimed at:

• Strengthening parents’ skills and capacity to support their children’s social and emotional health and development.
• Providing families with educational resources related to children’s social and emotional health and development.
• Providing training in evidence-based assessment and treatment to school-based providers.
  Parent Groups

Programs include:

• Summer Drop-in Parent Consultation Service for parenting and/or child behavior questions.
• Managing Children’s Behavior
• Tuning in to Teens®
• Tuning in to Kids®
• Support Group for Parents of Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Learn more about UConn Child and Family Development Program.

Wrights Law

Parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys come to Wrights Law for accurate, reliable information about special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities. Learn more about Wrights Law.

Family Enrichment Center